i think its so fascinating the different types of “i” that some of the Yugioh characters use.
youve got Yuugi, who uses “boku” almost exclusively to refer to himself. he also uses a very casual tone with pretty much everyone, even in circumstances where maybe a more formal tone/tense would be applied (like speaking with the museum director in s0, or Professor Hawkins in DM). this showcases how laid-back he is with everyone, partially as an attempt to diffuse the intense stress he and the Yuugi-Tachi may be under throughout the series’ run, partially because he’s just Chill Like That, and sees everyone as an equal.
then youve got Atemu, who uses “ore” the whole time, and takes on a more professional/formal tone when speaking. this could be seen as a carryover from his time as King, as he uses this tense even through the early parts of the series and s0. despite forgetting his memories, the core parts of himself do not change. he was at one point taught to see himself as above everyone else, both in the sense of Pharonic Divinity and his position as royalty, and thats showcased in his use of s more formal “i”.
moving to the other side of things, you have Ryou using “watashi”, and more textbook/“flat” tenses and verbiage. this is most likely because Japanese is his second language, his first probably being English because of his upbringing. it’s implied in the subbed anime and the manga that he isnt native to Domino, and Japan by proxy, and was most likely taught Japanese by his father or a tutor—or he learned on his own, which would be a better explanation as to why he speaks the way he does. he uses overly polite terms as well, though i feel that this may be both due to his extremely anxious and timid nature (he feels he needs to apologize for Everything All The Time (#metoobro)), as well as him being JSL.
then weve got Bandit Bakura and the Ring Spirit, who both use “ore-sama”, as well as unnecessary flourishes. The Ring Spirit seems to use a flatter tone than Bandit Bakura, though his “i”s are still on the egotistical side, while Bandit Bakura uses more casual, even insulting, tenses and tones (ie referring to pretty much everyone as “kissama”, a relatively rude form of “you”. The Ring Spirit views himself as something to be held in high regards—a god, even, as it is heavily implied that he is both TKB and Zorc all at once—and that is reflected in the way he speaks, especially during his duel against Malik’s Other in Battle City. MEANWHILE, Bandit Bakura is aiming to come off as cutting, cruel and cold, most likely as a defense mechanism. the way he carries himself makes his tone seem like a sword, something he wields against people to make himself seem unapproachable (“cactusing”, i call it. hes making himself extra Spiky on the outside to protect himself).
anyway rant over etymology is cool :)
