With the new craze of digital pets spreading, the company has set up a special digital pet competition. Whoever raises the strongest digital pet wins a trip for two to Australia. However, a large and ruthless student named Kujirada is determined to win the trip for himself.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Adaptational Villainy: In the manga, Kujirada wasn't too upset about losing to Yugi, since it meant that he didn't need to continue to care for his defeated pet. However, in the anime, he's very upset with his defeat, but only because that meant a punishment from Haiyama.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Haiyama, the weak nerdy boy with glasses, is actually a vicious bully. Moreover, it's revealed he was the one who picked on Kujirada and made him his slave, rather than the other way around.
- The Dog Bites Back: Haiyama's pet turns on him when he tries to make it fight more.
- Fat Bastard: Kujirada. Justified, as his personality and appearance were shaped by Haiyama.
- Game Face: When Haiyama reveals his true, malicious self to Honda, his face displays eyes with small irises and a big Slasher Smile.
- Laughing Mad: Haiyama when fighting Yami Yugi.
- The Man Behind the Man: Haiyama was controlling Kujirada.
- Meaningful Name: Kujirada means "whale" and Kujirada is very large.
- Mind Rape: Haiyama's penalty game is being 'eaten' by his digital pet, though physically he's fine.
- Money to Throw Away: When Kujirada breaks the shop's window to grab the Gold Pet, the shopkeeper chews him out for it only to relent when the former throws several yen bills at the latter to let him keep it and pay the broken window.
- Slavery Is a Special Kind of Evil: Haiyama treats people as pets, and makes them do things and he rewards them with whatever they want/like. For Kujirada's case, his "feed" was money. For Honda, his was Miho.
- Sleep Deprivation: Honda spent 72 hours straight raising a digital pet strong enough to beat Kujirada's, but when he tries to face Haiyama himself he collapses from exhaustion and Yugi has to intervene.
- Stalker without a Crush: Haiyama turns out to be this and in the worst of fashions.
- Tough Love: Jounouchi's pet beats up Yugi's pet during a data transfer. That results in Yugi's pet leveling up during the fight against Haiyama.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: It's implied Kujirada was this before Haiyama came into his life.
- Whip of Dominance: Haiyama uses a whip to punish his "pets" and to attack Yugi and Honda.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: After all Honda had done for Miho in this episode, Miho was planning to go to Australia with her mother. Poor guy can't get a break.
- You Don't Look Like You: The photos Haiyama took of Kujirada in middle school show him looking significantly more different than his current appearance.
