chibicrow:

Ok but can we talk about this for a moment.

Crow and Shinji are planning a jailbreak and planning to use the Entertainment Duel Tournament as a distraction for the guards. Because of the joint liability rule and the recent incident involving one of the prisoners being escorted by two guards, Crow and Shinji have to be really careful to not involve too many people. Because the punishment, if they get caught, is … well, not good obviously. Judging from how the prisoner was reacting to being taken away, I’m thinking the punishment for trying to escape, being involved with the people trying to escape, or just being associated with the people trying to escape?

Death.

And if not death, then I’m sure there is probably all kinds of abuses waiting for those who defy Security to show them who’s really in charge. Physical (the criminal markers are probably included in this category), mental, sexual. You name it. Like that one Duel Chaser said to Yugo, any tactic to accomplish the task at hand is approved by the higher-ups, no matter how dirty or unfair. 

Simply for Security to exert their force on Commons and to show Commons what the price is for disobeying them.

Crow has probably been in the Detention Center multiple times and knows all the risks associated with trying to escape. He’s probably lost friends (who were probably also Shinji and Damon’s friends) this way too. And losing them as in they were either no longer living (if the death thing is right) or they’ve been so scarred that they’ve completely lost their sense of self and were completely unrecognizable to the point of no return.

So, his attempt to disassociate himself from Yuya, acting nasty towards him and all? Especially when Yuya wanted to come with him?

It was all to protect Yuya and his friends. (I mean do we really want to see any of our fellow Lancers go through brutal Security-style punishment? I don’t think so).

If he didn’t think Crow was his friend, then Yuya wouldn’t be in trouble if the jailbreak failed under the joint liability law. The less blood Crow had on his hands, the better. Besides, Crow knew or at least had an inkling that people were waiting for Yuya to come back, so not only was he thinking about Yuya’s safety or his friends, but for those who were waiting for him in the Standard Dimension.

Unfortunately for Crow, though, not only does the concept of joint liability not sink in for Yuya (if you’re friends with Yuya, you’re friends with Yuya sorry can’t back out now. Just ask Sora), this happened, thanks to Damon’s words:

Yuya doesn’t exactly have any time to lose. He can’t just wait around, hoping to be released soon. And he’s going to want to do everything in his power to find Yuzu and make sure she’s alright. I mean, he already though she was captured by Academia and now this? Poor kid.

Not to mention Crow did tell Yuya that he would help him and his friends find his other comrades, including Yuzu. Yuya trusted Crow.

But now Crow’s saying that they’re not friends. And since Crow was the only other one present who knows for sure that Yuzu’s being targeted, Yuya feels that he’s all alone and conflicted in bearing his desire to save Yuzu and he can’t get out of his situation. He has to choose between staying put and finding Yuzu. So alone, he doesn’t even participate willingly in Shingo’s Duel Chant.

Hence

And Crow and Shinji definitely did not see this coming (especially not Shinji like did you know Crow was gonna chew out Yuya? PLS SCOLD HIM LATER). 

Thankfully though, THE MAN GOGENZAKA, super close friend of Yuya and Yuya Defender Extraordinaire, saves the day and helps Yuya realize he’s not alone:

Ironically though, I think Gogenzaka’s also told this to Crow and Shinji (MAN WHY DIDN’T WE SEE THAT CONVERSATION DAMMIT), the ones trying to jailbreak, because they and Damon were trying to do this by themselves. Why? Because they were worried about what would happen to the others. And Gogenzaka’s like “Fuck that, we’re all in this together” And whenever he speaks, even older folks take him seriously.

I mean, why else would Crow separate from Shinji and Damon to support Yuya? I bet Gogenzaka really chewed him out especially because no one makes his best friend upset and gets away with it. Even if it was with good intentions.

And then epic jailbreak scene occurs (while Tokumatsu’s peeved that Yuya willingly helped turn dueling into something that wasn’t purely entertainment. At least he understood in the end tho) and the episode ends.

Honestly though, I could talk about this episode forever. It was just so well done imo. Even if it was a huge stab in the feels.