Like much of the youth in Heartland City, Yuto wasn't really a strong student when he was in primary school, with dueling holding the most of his interest rather than reading and arithmetic. And like everyone else, he elected to go to a dueling school for his secondary education rather than progressing in a traditional academic field. When he first met Ruri, and they spent coffee dates and walks in the park getting to know each other in the absence of her protective other brother, he was surprised to find that she was a bit bookish (which was unusual for those committed to the pro-duelist course) enthralled with this novel or that, and she loved to talk about them, and he loved to listen because it was her. He doesn't remember much of the details since he was more focused on the enthusiasm of her voice, the lustre of her dark hair, the way her eyes shone. But one of the few things he does remember is a sea of emotions, and although the idea of drowning in your liquefied feelings made absolutely zero sense at the time, Yuto thinks he completely understands now.
Because ever since he first survived the invasion, ever since a boy with the same face kidnapped her, ever since he lost to a young turbo duelist, ever since he spent what were supposed to be the golden years of his youth fighting non-stop, he's been infuriated, heart turned black like the wings of his dragon as he tries not to drown in anger. And then a promise to his soul-brother seemed to save him, but now he feels as if he's adrift, formless inside another's soul, helpless as he can only watch and whisper and rage every time the four of them heard their dragons call. Every time their eyes glow and he's consumed by an anger that transcends his years, lost at sea until a girl with Ruri's face calls to his brother.
The four of them have been joined for some time now, first as one man, and then as prisoners of his. His wrath, his pride, his lust, his gluttony. Privately—or was it really private? Was it really his own thought? Seeing as he and Yuuri and Yugo all floated incorporeally within their brother's soul, a kinder jailer than Zarc—Yuto thought of himself as merely Yuuya's wrath, since he was only able to briefly manifest in their shared anger. There wasn't much functional difference being trapped inside Z-Arc's soul and inside Yuuya's soul, but at least Yuuya listens, and loves, and lives. When his brother looks at Yuzu, she looks at Yuuya with the same way Ruri looked at him, and it's enough for Yuto to be content with.
a/n: thinking about all of the Better Written characters trapped inside yuya (the bar is low) and wanted to explore that.
