I'm back with talking about the manga because it feels like I have something to say for every few pages
But how heartbreaking that Yugi wanted to leave the burning room/building, tried to yank the chain, and the first thought on his mind...
Is that the puzzle is going to melt. It's not that he's going to die. His first, knee jerk reaction is to say the puzzle will MELT.
Which is when it hits him
You can LITERALLY SEE IT DAWNS ON HIM IN REAL TIME.
Oh. The puzzle will melt. His other self will die here. He finds he's not worried at all about his own safety, or that he himself might die, but that his other self, Yami, his Mou Hitori No Boku, will die.
As if he's not already dead enough as is. He will fully, wholeheartedly die, disappear from the world of the living, trapped forever in a void.
Which is why, when the opportunity to save himself arrives, Yugi's knee jerk reaction is to look back.
He can't leave because Yami will die for good if he can't save him. And if he can't save him, at least he wants to see him one last time, as they both go down, together.
I love how Jounouchi's expression mirrors Yugi's, they're feeling the same thing, they both want to save someone dear and it KILLS THEM that they cannot. How they both hold back tears, but Jounouchi stays behind because he understands.
He understands what Yugi feels, to try and save Yami, because he himself feels that as he tries to save Yugi. How Yugi dismisses him, not flippantly, but with a stutter, with his voice cracking and angry, because he's angry with himself for letting this happen, for having his other heart shattered.
How Yugi won't meet his eyes, compared to when Jounouchi had taken a hold of Yugi and told him to let him feel what he feels, because he knows Jounouchi will sway him, but he cannot be swayed now, he already made up his mind and the puzzle is the only important thing right now.
How Jounouchi feels angry with himself for not making Yugi budge, for how he's helplessly watching Yugi die trying to save someone precious to him.
How, only when Yugi finished the puzzle, only when Yugi saved Yami, can Jounouchi hear Yami briefly and save both of them.