Holy shit, it just clicked for me. So you know how at the beginning of Season 1, we see Seto sitting in class reading “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” by Nietzsche? I always thought it was just to establish that he was intelligent and well-read, but there’s another reason.
“They call you heartless; but you have a heart and I love you for being ashamed to show it.” (Chapter 10, On War and Warriors)
I defy you to sum up Seto Kaiba’s entire character in a better sentence.