Yusei was caught off guard and looked at "Goodwin" in surprise, not expecting such a question.
"Years ago, Dr. Fudo developed the 'Ener-D'," Kira began slowly. "The key to it was a mediating particle called the 'Yusei Particle.' (TL: English is Planetary Particle but in literal meaning in JP is Yusei Project. So I combined it to Yusei Particle for the sake of context.)
Dr. Fudo discovered this particle had unique properties; it could combine with all other elementary particles and act as a mediator between them.
Later, he named his son after this particle."
Kira gave Yusei a meaningful look.
"You understand what he meant by this, don't you?"
Yusei's heart shook. "Yusei Particle… Yusei…"
Being a techhead, having once hand-built a Ener-D from scrap, he was familiar with the theory—he knew about the Yusei Particle, and had thought about the coincidence with his own name.
But nobody had ever said it out loud before, so he hadn't dwelled on it.
But now...
"Yes, I think you understand," Kira said. "Your father's hope was that you would become like the Yusei Particle.
Someone who could build connections between people, inspire mutual understanding, foster real bonds—what you call 'kizuna.'
The power of bonds can transcend all barriers and bring hope."
This, too, was the main theme of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's—and the main reason Yusei kept getting stronger and more "overpowered" as the plot progressed.
If you put it in fantastical terms, "kizuna"—the power of bonds—is Yusei's "Will."
The power of friendship and trust let him break through limits, draw miracle cards, and even shatter Z-one's perception to create a brand-new future unknown to all timelines.
This path was Yusei's origin. With Kira's help pointing this out, his own evolution could accelerate.
"But…" Yusei said, "If there had been no Ener-D to begin with—"
Jack, who'd kept silent, suddenly snapped and grabbed Yusei by his collar: "How long are you going to show this pathetic side, Yusei!?"
Yusei: "Jack…"
He'd just beaten Jack at the Fortune Cup, regaining the King title. Though childhood friends, the tension had them at odds, and Jack hadn't wanted to talk to him. But this, he couldn't hold back.
"Listen up, Yusei—I, and everyone else, never once blamed you, or your father! My life—Jack Atlas' life—is in my own hands! Every road I walk is one I cut for myself! If I have a destiny, it's to surpass you and become the greatest King—nothing more!
So don't act like this. Stand tall, like my worthy rival, Yusei! No point dwelling in the past—our only goal is the future, and that's enough!"
Yusei's heart trembled, moved. "Jack…"
Jack's words were rough and almost provocative, but Yusei knew this was his comrade's way of comforting him.
Kira added: "The Ener-D's creation was inevitable for humanity, Yusei Fudo.
Whether Synchro Summoning, or the Engine itself—even without them, humanity's progress would have produced other advances. If we can't face the future rightly, it'll always fall into darkness, no matter what."
Kira wasn't just saying this for Yusei—or for Z-one in hiding—but as a warning to strengthen Yusei's future resolve.
Yu-Gi-Oh! history had shown this: erasing the Ener-D couldn't save the world. As long as darkness lurked in people's hearts, something else took its place—Orichalcos, Nightshroud, the various demon gods, and so on.
New bosses kept appearing, all with darkness-at-heart backgrounds. So Z-one's "save humanity by erasing Ener-D" plan was doomed from the start; history had proven, again and again, it wouldn't work.
"Dr. Fudo was a great researcher—a beacon in human history," Kira said. "The Ener-D was his dream, dedicating his life to guiding humanity toward light and hope.
Will you deny your father's life's work, and the hope he placed on you?"
Yusei's heart trembled, his gaze shifting.
After a moment, he smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Jack. Goodwin, I understand. I won't be lost anymore."
Yes, what's done is done. Zero Reverse happened, for whatever reason. But to prevent similar tragedies from happening again, they would take control of their own future.
Yusei clenched his fist, gaze firm once more.
Kira could even sense that Yusei's 'duelist aura' condensed further. With all he'd gone through—Fortune Cup, the Signer and Dark Signer battles—this new clarity of mind seemed a sign of a coming breakthrough.
Good. It was a good thing.
Kira nodded, pleased.
At this pace, Yusei might surpass the original timeline—maybe even manifest "Cosmic Blazar Dragon," which never appeared in the anime itself.
Cosmic Blazar Dragon was only released long after 5D's ended. Though absent in the show, its name was glimpsed.
The anime claimed Blazar was "natural evolution Yusei achieved in the original, unaltered timeline, upon reaching the pinnacle of peace of mind"—the ultimate Synchro, a godlike creature.
If it appeared in this era, it would be unstoppable.
So, in the untouched time stream, Yusei's Blazar Dragon probably held a mythic status, like the three Egyptian Gods for Yugi.
But in the canon, due to Z-one's interference, Blazar was erased from history.
Maybe someday post-series Yusei did summon it, but nothing further was shown.
With his mood sorted, Yusei looked at Goodwin, thought for a moment, and asked: "Goodwin, did you know my father?"
He'd always suspected Goodwin knew many of the Ener-D's secrets, and now more than ever, he seemed familiar with Dr. Fudo.
Kira mused for a moment, recalling his character background.
Then nodded.
"I did.
Dr. Fudo… was a dear friend of mine."
Yusei: "!"
…