Téa Gardner
Téa Gardner, known as Anzu Mazaki (真崎 杏子 Mazaki Anzu) in the Japanese version, is one of Yugi Muto's closest friends. Unlike Yugi and his friends, Téa does not frequently engage in games, but early in the anime, she was shown to be skilled enough to defeat Joey Wheeler in Duel Monsters and later demonstrated solid competence against other opponents. Téa is also passionate about dance and aspires to become a professional dancer.
| Names | Téa Gardner, Anzu Mazaki (真崎 杏子 Mazaki Anzu) |
| Gender | Female ♀ |
| Race | Human |
| Occupation | Duelist, Student, Dancer, Fast-Food Waitress |
| Origin | Yu-Gi-Oh! Chapter 1: "The Puzzle of the Gods" のパズル Kami no Pazuru, September 14, 1996 (Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1992 #46) |
| Alignment | Good |
| Age | 16 (physically), 18 (DSOD) |
| Height | 165 cm (5ft 5in) |
| Weight | 47 kg (104 lbs) (7.4 st) |
| Created By | Kazuo Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 一雅) |
| Personality Type | ESFJ, 2w1 (Enneagram) |
| Voice Actors |  Japanese: Maki Saito
|
Appearance
Téa’s character design was overseen by Kazuki Takahashi.
In the manga, Téa initially had short, conventional hair. Her first color depiction in Duel 1 showed her with dark brown hair and amber eyes. Over time, Takahashi refined her features to be more feminine and expressive, giving her longer, more stylized hair. From Volume 3 onward, her hair was depicted in a lighter brown shade, while her eye color alternated between blue and reddish-brown. By the manga’s final volume, her hair reached her shoulders. Téa’s standard attire is the Domino High School female uniform, consisting of a pink coat, white oxford shirt, blue tie, and blue pleated skirt. However, she frequently changes her casual outfits throughout the series.
In the first anime adaptation, her hair and eyes are reddish-brown, and her school uniform features an orange coat with a green tie and skirt. In an amusement park episode, she wears a light-green bikini.
In the second anime series, Téa has brown hair and blue eyes. Her school uniform maintains the manga’s color scheme. Her shoulder-length hair is layered, with a darker brown inner layer and a lighter brown outer layer.
During Season 1, Téa’s usual outfit consists of a yellow, skirt-like shirt with a pink waistcoat over it, a blue miniskirt, and brown knee-high boots.
In Seasons 2 and 3, she wears a light green sleeveless button-up shirt with a yellow collar, navy shorts with a light blue belt, pink and blue bracelets, white thigh-high socks, and blue platform sandals. Before being captured by the Rare Hunters, she also carried a light yellow handbag. She occasionally wears a yellow tank top with the word “SPIRIT” on it (removed in the English dub) paired with a red skirt.
Another notable outfit includes a yellow tube top, red choker, light pink shorts, black thigh-high socks, red platform sandals, and a pink jacket. In Seasons 4 and 5, she dons a black sleeveless crop top, a red skirt, and white high-heeled boots. During the Industrial Illusions trip and the KC Grand Championship, she wears a white jacket over a red tank top, a pleated yellow skirt, and tan boots.
In Season 4, she is seen wearing a yellow jacket, blue shirt, short shorts, cyan socks, and blue-and-white sneakers. In episode 4 of the season, she appears in a black tank top, navy short shorts with a gray belt, and yellow wristbands.
In Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters, Téa’s attire consists of a dark pink jacket, light green shirt with a beige necktie, an emerald-green skirt, and brown boots.
Personality
At the beginning of the manga, Téa has a spunky, tomboyish personality and is bold enough to scare off Joey (Jonouchi) and Tristan (Honda) when they bully Yugi. She is kind-hearted, strong-willed, and fiercely supportive of her friends.
In the second anime series, Téa often encourages her friends and stands firmly for her beliefs. She serves as the group’s grounded, compassionate, and rational voice of reason.
The series also hints at her romantic feelings for Yugi over the Pharaoh, particularly during the final duel and the Waking the Dragons arc. She is prone to jealousy, reacting strongly when Mai, Rebecca, or Vivian flirt with Yugi—sometimes leading to explosive outbursts.
Despite her deep friendships, Téa does not hesitate to keep Joey and Tristan in check when they act foolishly. She frequently remarks, “I need more female friends,” yet she values her bond with the group deeply, often taking on a sisterly role.
Biography
Elementary School
Téa first met Yugi in elementary school when he gave her a handheld game. She quickly became engrossed in playing but struggled to improve despite her efforts. Frustrated, she smashed the game in anger. Yugi found the situation amusing and, the next day, brought her an easier game to try instead.
High School
During lunch one day, Téa grew tired of playing basketball with the boys, who were more interested in trying to peek under the girls’ skirts than actually playing. Frustrated, she returned to her classroom, where she caught Yugi’s Millennium Puzzle box midair as Joey and Tristan tossed it around. Scolding them for bullying Yugi, she returned the box to him. After they left, Yugi confided in Téa that he had been working on the Millennium Puzzle for eight years and that it was a memento from his grandfather. Curious, Téa visited Yugi’s house after school, only to be surprised that his grandfather was still alive. She was further caught off guard when he made an awkward comment about her bust size.
After Yugi and Joey became friends, Téa started spending more time with Joey as well. When a ZTV van arrived at their school, she argued with him for spreading rumors about a celebrity attending their school and for trying to make money by selling pictures of them. Later, when Tristan and Joey used a T-square to lift her skirt, she retaliated by punching Joey in the face.
Despite school rules prohibiting part-time jobs, Téa secretly started working at Burger World to save money for dance school in New York. Noticing her suspicious behavior, Yugi and Joey speculated about the cause, with Joey jumping to the worst conclusion—that she was dating older men for money. Determined to uncover the truth, they followed her after school and discovered her working at the restaurant. Téa served them their meals but used ketchup to write a warning on their burgers, telling them to keep quiet about her job.
While working, Téa was taken hostage by an escaped convict. Blindfolded, she remained unaware as Yugi was forced to serve the man a drink and Lucky Stripe cigarettes. However, Yami Yugi soon emerged, challenging the convict to a high-stakes One Finger Battle!. Though Téa couldn’t see what was happening, she heard Yami Yugi’s voice—it sounded like Yugi’s, but his confidence and intensity made her doubt it was really him. Yami Yugi ultimately defeated the convict and rescued Téa. Not knowing the identity of her savior, she became infatuated with him and longed to uncover his true identity.
Kokurano, a self-proclaimed psychic, later tried to manipulate Téa by predicting that she would soon meet a wonderful man who would reveal himself to her, causing her to fall in love. Hoping this mysterious figure was the one who saved her at Burger World, Téa believed in Kokurano’s words. However, Kokurano attempted to make himself the man from his prophecy, knocking her unconscious with chloroform to stage their "fated" moment. Yami Yugi, realizing Kokurano’s deceitful tactics, rushed to Téa’s rescue. Using the same bottle of chloroform, he turned the tables on Kokurano in a Paper Crash! Shadow Game, exposing him as a fraud.
As class representative, Téa helped plan their school festival and gathered student suggestions before deciding on Yugi’s Carnival Games booth. Through a lottery, she secured the festival’s most popular spot. While constructing the booth, she assigned Joey the role of Bluebeard in their life-size Pop-Up Pirate game, much to his dismay. However, Goro Inogashira attempted to steal the prime festival spot for his own class and destroyed the booth. Seeing Téa break down in tears over the situation, Yugi transformed into Yami Yugi, challenging Goro to a Griddle Ice Hockey Shadow Game. Yami Yugi’s victory ensured that Téa’s booth was restored.
Téa was later introduced to Duel Monsters at Kame Game Shop by Yugi and his grandfather, Solomon.
When Joey unexpectedly missed school, Téa admitted she felt lonely without him and later joined Tristan and Yugi in searching for him. They eventually spotted him with Hirutani’s gang, assaulting someone outside the American Club. When Joey denied knowing Yugi and remained indifferent as one of the gang members punched him, Téa angrily called him the worst. Later, she tended to Yugi’s injury while Tristan explained Joey’s past with Hirutani. Realizing that Joey wasn’t with the gang by choice, the three decided to rescue him.
Tracking down a gang member, Tristan interrogated him and learned that Hirutani had blackmailed Joey into rejoining by threatening to attack their classmates. The trio split up to find Joey after discovering that a fight had broken out within the gang. Eventually, Téa and Tristan caught up with him after Yami Yugi had already rescued him.
Yugi later invited Téa, Joey, and Tristan to The Art of Egypt exhibition at Domino City Museum. Téa teased Joey, who was fearful of curses, by pointing out that Yugi’s Millennium Puzzle, also from Egypt, was rumored to be cursed—archaeologists who uncovered it had mysteriously died, according to Yugi’s grandfather. At the exhibition, Professor Yoshimori guided them through the artifacts, and Téa took a particular interest in a papyrus depicting the Weighing of the Heart.
On the day of the exhibition, Curator Kanekura died under suspicious circumstances. Téa and Joey accompanied Yugi and his grandfather to visit Yoshimori, hoping to cheer him up. However, Shadi—the one responsible for Kanekura’s death—was also seeking to punish Yoshimori for disturbing the pharaoh’s tomb. To challenge Yami Yugi, Shadi manipulated Yoshimori’s soul, forcing him to attack Yugi’s friends. Téa intervened when Yoshimori tried to choke Joey, knocking him out with a globe.
Shadi then entered Téa’s soul room in an attempt to draw out Yami Yugi. Inside, he found symbols of Téa’s dream to become a dancer in New York and a photograph of a hero with a blank face. Using his Millennium Key, Shadi altered her soul to turn her into a pawn in a Shadow Game against Yami Yugi.
Téa was suspended on a Bridge of Life, supported by three ushebti figurines that would break if Yugi showed weakness. A fourth ushebti, tied to Shadi’s own heart, held the Millennium Key. If Yugi’s ushebti broke, Téa would fall to her death. However, if Shadi’s ushebti broke first, Téa would regain control and be saved.
Yami Yugi successfully overcame Shadi’s trials but allowed three ushebti to break. As the fourth began to crack, Joey suddenly appeared below the bridge and held it up. Shadi, witnessing the unshakable bond between Yugi and his friends, was moved by their loyalty. His own ushebti shattered, restoring Téa to normal. Yugi and Joey helped her back onto the building, and she soon noticed Yugi had been acting differently. When she and Joey confronted him, Yami Yugi relinquished control.
When Digital Pets became popular, Téa got one and named it Peachy. She scolded Kujirada for disrespecting others’ pets, reminding him that they still mattered even if they weren’t rare like his. However, Kujirada later stole Peachy and fed it to his own pet.
Death-T
Téa was fired from Burger World after punching a customer who groped her. She then found work at Kaiba Land, where she was assigned to the Stardust Shootout attraction. While working, she encountered Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Tristan’s baby nephew, Johji, during Death-T and learned that Seto Kaiba was trying to kill Yugi in his own theme park.
Tristan left Johji in Téa’s care. Although the baby disliked the boys, he had a perverse admiration for Téa. Since Kaiba rigged the game, Yugi and his friends’ laser guns were useless, but Téa—unrecognized as their friend—was given a functional gun. Tristan used it to take down the remaining opponents while carrying Johji on his back. In exchange for Johji’s cooperation, Tristan had promised him a bath with Téa, which she furiously refused.
Téa and her friends entered the Horror Zone for Death T-2, where they were greeted by Kaiba’s butler. He escorted them to the Electric Chair Ride, which would take them to the Murderer’s Mansion. Téa, Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and the butler were strapped into electric chairs, while Johji sat on Téa’s lap. The ride was designed to terrify its passengers, and if anyone screamed, they would be electrocuted to death.
During the ride, mechanical hands emerged from Téa’s chair and groped her, nearly causing her to scream. Realizing her distress, Johji climbed off her lap and crawled back to the butler, where he defecated on him. The butler, disgusted, let out a scream and was electrocuted, rendering him unable to trigger more terrors. With the danger neutralized, the group arrived safely at the mansion.
Inside the Murderer’s Mansion, Kaiba appeared as a projection and warned them about a serial killer named Chopman lurking within. He pointed to four holes in the wall, explaining that each contained a button, one of which would unlock their escape. Téa, Yugi, Joey, and Tristan each placed a hand inside a hole, only to have their hands locked in place. They were then shown that they were strapped to a guillotine, set to drop in five minutes or if the wrong button was pressed. Yugi managed to solve the Blood Puzzle in time and instructed Téa to press her button, which freed their hands.
As they prepared to leave, Chopman took Johji hostage, but Joey managed to rescue him, allowing the group to advance to Death T-3.
They entered an empty room where nothing seemed to happen at first. Taking a moment to reflect, Téa, Yugi, Tristan, and Joey discussed how their lives had changed since meeting each other. Téa then had them hold out their hands and drew a symbol of friendship—a simple smiley face—on each of their palms. She told them that if they ever went their separate ways, they could look at the symbol and remember their bond.
The stage’s game, Rhythm Rock, soon began, causing large blocks to fall from the ceiling. Having studied dance patterns, Téa quickly noticed a rhythm to their descent and used this to predict where the next blocks would fall, warning the others. As the room filled with blocks, they climbed higher, passing Johji, who had fallen asleep. Téa, Yugi, Joey, and Johji escaped through an opening in the wall, but Tristan was trapped inside and left behind.
Devastated by what happened to Tristan, Yugi confided in Téa and Joey, revealing his belief that another version of himself existed inside him. Ever since solving the Millennium Puzzle, he had experienced blackouts where this other presence took over. He admitted that he had been too afraid to tell them, fearing they might abandon him. However, Téa and Joey reassured him that they would always be his friends.
For the first time, Téa knowingly witnessed Yami Yugi emerge as he prepared to face Mokuba in Capsule Monster Chess during Death T-4. Both she and Joey were held at gunpoint throughout the match. After Yami Yugi won, they were taken to the Dome Duel Arena to watch him challenge Kaiba in a game of Duel Monsters for Death T-5.
During the duel, Yami Yugi began to doubt himself, fearing he would lose. However, when he remembered the symbol of friendship Téa had drawn, he imagined his friends standing beside him, which gave him the strength to overcome his fear. As Téa cheered for his victory, she wondered which Yugi she should be celebrating, but ultimately decided it didn’t matter—Yugi was no longer the timid boy he once was.
Téa, Joey, and Johji remained at gunpoint until Tristan reappeared, arriving just in time to save them with Mokuba’s help.
Before leaving, Téa asked Mokuba why Kaiba had orchestrated this elaborate revenge. Mokuba explained how Kaiba had changed after he and his brother were adopted by Gozaburo Kaiba.
After discovering Yami Yugi’s existence, Téa gave Yugi a Lovely Two love compatibility tester. However, when he tried it, the device registered no reading, suggesting they weren’t romantically compatible. Later that day, their teacher, Tsuruoka, confiscated Yugi’s Lovely Two and dismissed Yugi, Joey, and Tristan as unskilled slackers. In response, Yami Yugi emerged and challenged Tsuruoka’s claim, boasting that he had never lost a game.
Tsuruoka imposed a challenge, Find the Keyring!, hiding the Lovely Two somewhere in the school and giving them one hour to locate it or face expulsion. Téa, flustered in Yami Yugi’s presence, handed him her own Lovely Two, hoping it might be useful. Using the device’s reaction, Yami Yugi pinpointed Yugi’s tester hidden under Tsuruoka’s wig. Téa, closing her eyes, silently pleaded for it to react, and when it finally did, its noise exposed the location, securing their victory.
Téa, Yugi, and Tristan later attended The Get the Million Game as studio audience members while Joey participated in the show.
During summer vacation, Téa invited Yugi to Domino Park. On their way, she grew frustrated when he was more interested in a newspaper than her. As they entered the park, Yugi attempted to ask if this was a date but was interrupted when the ticket attendant mistook him for a grade schooler. Téa suggested they start at the pool, where they went down a water slide together, making Yugi blush upon seeing her in a bikini.
While sunbathing, Téa briefly mistook Yugi for Yami Yugi, but after seeing him chase a boy with a water gun, she realized it was just her imagination. Curious about how to make Yami Yugi appear, she devised a plan—when a boy tried hitting on her, she suddenly screamed for help, accusing him of being a pervert. However, a group of boys immediately jumped in and started attacking him before Yugi could intervene. Panicking, Téa grabbed Yugi’s wrist and fled.
Later, Téa and Yugi rode a roller coaster together. As they debated what ride to try next, they noticed the police evacuating the park due to a bomb scare. Seeing an opportunity to summon Yami Yugi, Téa separated from Yugi in the crowd and boarded the Ferris wheel, unaware that bombs had been planted in each car. Yami Yugi emerged and assisted the police in playing Clock Solitaire, a game set up by the bomber to determine which bombs would detonate. He successfully ended the game before any occupied cars were affected. When Téa disembarked, she confidently took Yami Yugi’s arm and suggested they continue their date.
Back at the Kame Game shop, Solomon showed Téa, Yugi, and Joey an ancient Egyptian game called Dogs and Jackals. Their conversation was interrupted when Imori arrived to inquire about a mysterious jar and box he had found sealed. Solomon explained that it contained the Chinese game Dragon Cards and warned that breaking the seal would unleash a chaotic power by clashing yin and yang. Intrigued, Téa admitted that the warning only made her more curious to open it.
Monster World
Téa, along with Yugi, Tristan, and Joey, befriended Ryo Bakura when he transferred to Domino High School. She learned about the tabletop role-playing game Monster World from both Bakura and Yugi. Joey proposed that they all play together the next day. However, after school, Bakura ominously warned them that people who had played games with him had mysteriously fallen into comas, advising them not to take the risk.
When Bakura failed to attend school the following day, Téa, Yugi, Joey, and Tristan, suspecting he was upset, decided to visit his apartment to cheer him up. Hoping to disprove the coma rumors, they insisted on playing Monster World. Unbeknownst to them, Bakura had become possessed by Dark Bakura, who was delighted at the chance to turn their session into a Shadow Game.
As the game began, Dark Bakura explained the rules and helped them create their character miniatures. Téa’s avatar was an elf magician, designed to resemble her. She, Yugi, Joey, and Tristan took on the roles of adventurers, while Dark Bakura played as the Dark Master.
Once the game started, the group quickly realized they had little idea of what to do. Téa suggested heading to the village for information. Curious about how realistic the NPCs sounded, she wondered if there were hidden speakers in the diorama, but Yugi speculated that Bakura was throwing his voice. Her suspicions deepened when the shopkeeper’s miniature seemed to speak on its own.
The villagers revealed that their land had been taken over by the Dark Lord Zorc, who was terrorizing them. Determined to defeat Zorc, the adventurers received directions to his castle and were warned to stay out of the nearby forest.
Outside the village, the adventurers stumbled upon a man lying motionless on the ground. Unaware that he was actually Zorc in disguise, Téa took pity on him and suggested they help. Pretending to be frightened, Zorc claimed he had been attacked by monsters in the forest, who had stolen the Holy Sword—the only weapon capable of defeating Zorc—which he had been delivering to the village hero. As the group debated whether to assist him, Téa reminded them that they had been warned to stay out of the forest. Ultimately, they decided to retrieve the sword, only to discover that the encounter rate for random enemies had skyrocketed to 80% upon entering.
Dark Bakura rolled to determine monster encounters, needing a result below 20 for enemies to appear. The lower the roll, the stronger the monsters. A roll of 05 summoned five formidable creatures. Tristan swiftly defeated Beega, Yugi tamed Pokii, and Téa rolled a 00—a supercritical hit—allowing her to unleash top-tier magic and annihilate the remaining three monsters in one move.
At that moment, Zorc revealed his true form, admitting he had deceived them. Dark Bakura rolled a supercritical for Zorc, activating his Mind Doll ability, which trapped Téa’s soul inside her miniature. In the following turns, Joey, Tristan, and Yugi also became sealed, leaving only Yami Yugi to roll for them.
Yami Yugi had Tristan shoot off Zorc’s left hand, which mutated into new monsters. Zorc retreated to his castle while his monstrous offspring attacked the adventurers. After fending them off, the party pursued Zorc into his stronghold, only to be trapped inside a tower with a collapsing ceiling. Their only chance of survival was to complete a support pillar before they were crushed. Zorc attacked while they were vulnerable, but Yami Yugi managed to finish the pillar just in time, allowing them to evade a second strike.
Seizing the opportunity, the adventurers took the initiative. Yami Yugi, channeling their determination into the dice, rolled low numbers, enabling them to unleash powerful attacks. However, due to Zorc’s high level, the attacks barely phased him. Dark Bakura then rolled a supercritical using rigged dice, allowing Zorc to launch an attack intended to wipe out the adventurers’ HP completely. However, Ryo Bakura—who had regained control of Dark Bakura’s left hand after Zorc’s amputation—intervened, recalculating the damage so that each adventurer was left with 1 HP instead of falling to zero.
On Téa’s next turn, she healed the party, but Dark Bakura dismissed it as futile, claiming Zorc’s next attack would finish them. However, when Bakura made his next roll, he fumbled, causing Zorc’s attack to backfire. Witnessing Dark Bakura’s reaction, Téa and the others began to suspect that he was not the same Bakura they had befriended. Yugi then extracted Bakura’s avatar, The White Wizard Bakura, from Zorc’s injured wrist.
White Wizard Bakura joined the battle, guiding the party as they fought Zorc. When the adventurers’ HP ran dangerously low, he warned Téa not to waste a turn healing them, insisting they needed to finish Zorc quickly. On the final turn, Téa and Zorc rolled for initiative, resulting in a tie. Both Yami Yugi and Dark Bakura rolled supercriticals, but Bakura managed to destroy Dark Bakura’s dice, giving Téa the opening to land the final blow and defeat Zorc.
With Zorc vanquished, the game ended, and Téa and her friends returned to normal.
Duelist Kingdom
Téa and Tristan sneak aboard the boat to Duelist Kingdom to support Yugi and Joey in the tournament. Throughout the event, Téa mostly stands on the sidelines, offering encouragement to the boys with motivational speeches.
During a Shadow Game of Duel Monsters against Yami Bakura, the players are trapped inside cards, similar to their Monster World pieces. Téa becomes the Magician of Faith card. Upset over Joey’s sacrifice, she activates her effect, returning Monster Reborn to Yami Yugi’s hand, allowing him to revive Joey.
As they approach Pegasus Castle, Téa wonders if there are truly two Yugis. This reminds her of when she first met Yugi and Joey at Burgerpalooza. At the time, she was working there underage, worried they might reveal she was still in school and cost her the job she needed to afford dance lessons. While serving them, she gives a stern glare and drenches their food in ketchup. However, instead of laughing at her dream of studying dance in New York, Yugi and Joey fully support her. The next day, Téa receives a letter from Yugi, revealing that he and the others found an unused warehouse on Spring Street for her to use as a dance studio. When she arrives, a mugger takes her hostage, but Yami Yugi intervenes and rescues her after she blacks out.
In the tournament, Yugi faces Kaiba but loses when Kaiba stands on the edge of the castle, forcing Yugi to forfeit rather than risk knocking him off. Afterward, Téa confronts Kaiba, accusing him of winning unfairly. Kaiba argues that duelists must use whatever means necessary to win, but Téa insists that Yugi was the true victor.
With Yugi now lacking enough Star Chips to enter the finals, Mai offers him her extra chips. Yugi initially refuses, feeling unworthy. Determined to help, Téa challenges Mai for them. She uses a combination of Magic Cards to help her Shining Friendship card defeat Mai’s Harpie Lady. Although Mai later turns the Duel around with Harpie’s Feather Duster, she is impressed by Téa’s determination. Acknowledging that Téa defeated her best monster, Mai surrenders and gives Yugi the chips.
As the tournament finals begin, Kemo refuses to let Téa, Tristan, and Bakura enter Pegasus’ castle since they are not finalists. However, Mai distracts Kemo long enough for them to sneak inside.
Inside, they watch Kaiba duel Pegasus. Using his Millennium Eye, Pegasus predicts Kaiba’s moves and easily defeats him. Tristan suspects foul play and later discusses it with Téa and Bakura. That night, the three investigate the Duel arena and discover a hole in the ceiling allowing moonlight to shine onto the battlefield. They spot a tower and decide to explore. Inside, they are confronted by Pegasus, who uses his Millennium Eye to transport them to another dimension. They wake up inside a mysterious room where a Shadow Game is taking place between two robed figures, with a chanting audience surrounding them. The victor, revealed to be Pegasus, approaches and attempts to take Bakura’s Millennium Ring. However, Yami Bakura takes control of Bakura’s body, sends Téa and Tristan back to their rooms, and erases their memories.
During the tournament’s final rounds, Téa passionately cheers for Yugi and Joey in their duels. However, when Yugi’s match against Pegasus moves into the Shadow Realm, she is unable to watch the conclusion. Despite this, Yugi feels his friends’ support in spirit and ultimately defeats Pegasus.
After the duel, Pegasus mysteriously vanishes. The group searches the castle and finds his diary, which Téa reads. She learns that Pegasus had a wife, Cecelia, who died. In his grief, he sought to revive her using the Millennium Items and Kaiba Corporation technology.
With the tournament over, Seto Kaiba takes Téa and her friends home in his helicopter.
Battle City
Yugi asks Téa to spend time with Yami. After visiting various shops and attractions, they stop by an arcade, where Téa defeats Johnny Steps in a dance game. Unwilling to accept his loss, Johnny later catches up with them and challenges Téa to another game with a condition—if she loses, she must become his girlfriend. Yami intervenes, challenging Johnny to a Duel Monsters match instead. If Yami wins, Johnny must leave Téa alone; if Johnny wins, Téa must go on a date with him. As the Duel progresses, Johnny realizes Yami is actually Yugi Muto, the same duelist who defeated Pegasus. Overwhelmed, he surrenders and flees. Téa stops him, advising him that quitting won't get him anywhere and that persistence is key to achieving his goals.
Later, Téa and Yami visit an Ancient Egyptian exhibition in search of clues about Yami’s past. There, they meet Ishizu Ishtar, who reveals information about his time as a Pharaoh and urges him to enter the Battle City tournament to learn more.
During the tournament's preliminary rounds, Téa supports Joey from the sidelines until she and Joey are captured by the Rare Hunters. They are taken to a warehouse at the docks and locked in separate rooms. Téa is trapped in a compartment filled with cardboard boxes, while Joey is tied to a chair elsewhere. She tries to escape by stacking the boxes to reach a window, but they collapse under her weight just as she reaches for it. Later, Mokuba, also kidnapped by the Rare Hunters, is locked in the same room with her. Working together, they stack the boxes again to reach the skylight, but as they climb, the Rare Hunters return and attempt to stop them. The stack collapses, and though Téa is restrained, Mokuba escapes, promising to return with help.
Téa is then possessed by Marik, who turns her into one of his mind slaves to lure the Pharaoh into a deadly Duel against Joey, who is also under Marik's control. The Duel is rigged so that the loser will drown. Téa is forced to sit in a chair with her hands and feet restrained beneath a massive crate suspended by a crane. If Yugi refuses to duel Joey or if anyone interferes, the crate will be dropped, crushing her. After explaining the Duel’s conditions, Téa is freed from Marik’s control but remains a hostage. Despite the danger, she tries desperately to help Joey break free of Marik’s influence and continues to encourage Yugi.
During the Duel, Kaiba remotely pilots his helicopter to ram the crane into the water to save Téa. As the Rare Hunter controlling the crate attempts to activate the trap, Kaiba knocks him unconscious. With the crane disabled, Téa is saved. Mokuba frees her from the chair, and she joins her friends in trying to stop Yugi and Joey’s Duel. However, before they can intervene, both duelists are pulled underwater. Believing them to be lost, Téa collapses in despair, only to be relieved when Yugi resurfaces. Moments later, Serenity, having regained her eyesight, rescues Joey.
Téa, along with Tristan, Serenity, and Duke Devlin, boards the KaibaCorp blimp to support Yugi, Joey, and Mai in the tournament finals. Initially, Roland refuses to let them on since they aren't finalists, but Mokuba convinces him otherwise. Despite Joey’s protests, they take up residence in his room for the duration of the finals.
Téa cheers for Yugi and Joey during their quarter-final Duels. When Joey jokes that Mai wasn’t in his dream alongside his other friends, Téa grabs him and scolds him after Mai leaves.
Meanwhile, Marik’s spirit intermittently inhabits Téa’s body to communicate with Yami Marik and Ishizu, as Yami Marik takes control of his physical body.
Virtual World
As the KaibaCorp blimp heads toward the Duel Tower, it is unexpectedly pulled into an underground lair controlled by Noah Kaiba. Téa, along with Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Duke Devlin, Serenity, Mokuba, and Seto Kaiba, exits the blimp to investigate, only to be trapped and transported into Noah’s Virtual World.
The group encounters Noah and the Big Five, who seek revenge against Seto Kaiba and require a physical body to return to the real world. To achieve this, they plan to defeat the protagonists in individual duels and transfer their consciousnesses into their victims’ bodies. The Big Five then separate the group, transporting each person to different locations within the Virtual World. Téa finds herself alone in a vast desert canyon, cut off from her friends. As she ventures deeper, searching for them, she realizes she is being stalked by a group of four Hitotsu-Me Giants, who see her as prey. When she spots one watching her from a nearby cliff, the others emerge and surround her. She attempts to back away slowly to avoid provoking them, but she accidentally steps on a loose rock. The sound startles the giants, triggering their attack.
One of the giants hurls a massive stone axe at Téa. Though it misses, the impact sends a barrage of sharp rocks flying through the air. One strikes her beneath her left eye, leaving a small but bleeding cut—despite the Virtual World supposedly being an illusion (censored in the dub). Overwhelmed and terrified, Téa turns to flee, but the giants give chase. One manages to intercept her, cornering her before knocking her unconscious with a powerful swipe of its claws.
The presumed leader of the giants, the one who wounded Téa, lifts her over its shoulder and, followed by the others, carries her across the barren landscape. They eventually arrive at their cave lair, where they intend to eat her. Inside, the leader drops Téa onto the rocky floor, and she groans in pain, her body twitching as the giants watch her struggle in amusement. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself trapped on a high stone ledge, with her monstrous captors lurking below. Realizing their gruesome intentions, she desperately searches for a way to escape.
Her salvation comes in the form of a mysterious penguin, which drops a vine from above, allowing her to climb to safety. However, the giants quickly notice her escape and pursue her once more, forcing her toward a rickety rope bridge suspended over a raging river. Initially paralyzed by fear, she finds the courage to cross after recalling memories of her friends. The giants follow, but their combined weight proves too much for the fragile bridge. It collapses, sending them plummeting into the river, where they drown. Téa manages to cling to a surviving portion of the bridge and climbs to safety but faints from exhaustion soon afterward.
While unconscious, she dreams of attending a show about the Dark Magician Girl with Yugi, where she is invited onstage and dressed as the magician herself. She awakens to find the same penguin from earlier beside her, leading her across the Virtual World to an icy temple. Inside, she encounters Crump of the Big Five, who has taken the form of the Duel Monster Nightmare Penguin. He reveals his plan to defeat her in a Duel and take over her body to return to the real world.
Téa attempts to flee, but Crump forces her into a Duel, transporting them to a frozen battlefield where they stand on separate icebergs adrift in frigid water. She is given a monitor displaying available cards to build her Deck. Though she has little dueling experience, she relies on knowledge gained from watching her friends to choose her cards. For her Deck Master, she recalls her dream and selects Dark Magician Girl, while Crump uses Nightmare Penguin.
As the Duel progresses, Téa faces a terrifying consequence—each time she loses Life Points, ice encases more of her body, starting with her feet. Despite her inexperience, she holds her own against Crump, guided by Dark Magician Girl, who communicates telepathically to offer strategic advice and emotional support. However, Crump gains the upper hand, whittling her Life Points down until only her head and arms remain unfrozen. Just as defeat seems inevitable, Dark Magician Girl steps in, showing her a path to victory. Using her Deck Master’s effect and the Sage’s Stone Magic Card, Téa Special Summons Dark Magician from Yugi’s Deck. With both magicians attacking together, she defeats Crump.
Upon winning, Téa is freed from the ice but collapses from exhaustion. Yugi, who had arrived in time to witness the Duel’s conclusion, rushes to her side and helps her regain consciousness. As she awakens in his arms, she tearfully embraces him in relief, leaving him flustered. With newfound determination, the two set off together across the icy terrain in search of their missing friends.
The gang encounters Noah and the Big Five, who seek revenge on Seto Kaiba and require a body to return to the real world. To achieve this, they plan to defeat the protagonists in individual duels and then transfer their consciousnesses into their bodies. The Big Five separate the group, sending them to different locations within the Virtual World. Téa is transported alone to a vast canyon in the middle of a desert. As she ventures deeper, searching for her friends, she becomes the target of a gang of four Hitotsu-Me Giants, who see her as prey. Spotting one of the giants watching her from a nearby cliff, Téa tries to retreat cautiously, but a misstep on a loose rock alerts the creatures, prompting them to attack.
During the assault, one of the giants hurls a massive stone axe at her. Though it misses, the impact sends a flurry of sharp rocks into the air, one of which strikes Téa under her left eye, causing a small but bleeding cut—despite the illusionary nature of the Virtual World. (In the dub, her injury is censored.) Shocked and terrified, Téa attempts to escape as the giants pursue her. One of them intercepts her, corners her, and knocks her unconscious with a swipe of its claws.
The leader of the Hitotsu-Me Giants, the one responsible for her injury, slings Téa over its shoulder and, along with the others, carries her across the barren landscape. They eventually arrive at their cave lair, where they intend to feast on her. Once inside, the giant drops Téa onto the cave floor, causing her to groan in pain as the creatures watch in amusement. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself trapped on a large stone shelf, with the cyclops monsters lurking below. Realizing their intentions, she desperately searches for an escape. A mysterious penguin drops a loose vine down to her, allowing her to climb out of the pit. However, the giants notice her escape and give chase once more, driving her toward a rickety rope bridge spanning a raging river.
Initially frozen with fear, Téa finds courage by remembering her friends and starts crossing. The Hitotsu-Me Giants follow, but their combined weight causes the bridge to collapse. They plunge into the river and drown, while Téa clings to a surviving section of the bridge and pulls herself to safety before passing out.
While unconscious, Téa dreams of attending a Dark Magician Girl performance with Yugi. In the dream, she is selected from the audience and dressed as Dark Magician Girl. She is awakened by the penguin that helped her escape, which leads her across the Virtual World to an ice temple. There, she encounters Crump of the Big Five, who has taken the form of the Duel Monster Nightmare Penguin. Crump reveals his plan to defeat her in a Duel so he can claim her body and return to the real world.
Téa attempts to flee, but Crump forces the Duel, transporting them to an icy battlefield where they must duel while standing on separate icebergs in freezing water. Given the chance to assemble a Deck from a monitor displaying various cards, Téa relies on her knowledge from watching her friends duel to make strategic choices. Remembering her dream, she selects Dark Magician Girl as her Deck Master, while Crump uses Nightmare Penguin.
As the Duel progresses, Téa struggles against Crump’s experience. Each time she loses Life Points, ice begins to engulf her, starting with her feet. Dark Magician Girl, whose Deck Master ability allows her to telepathically communicate with Téa, provides encouragement and strategic advice. Despite her inexperience, Téa holds her own. However, Crump gains the upper hand, nearly depleting her Life Points. By the Duel’s climax, Téa is almost entirely encased in ice, with only her head and arms exposed. When all hope seems lost, Dark Magician Girl guides her to victory. Téa uses her Deck Master's ability and the Sage's Stone Magic Card to Special Summon Dark Magician from Yugi’s Deck, delivering the final blow and defeating Crump.
With the Duel won, the ice shatters, freeing Téa before she collapses from exhaustion. Yugi, who had arrived in time to witness the final moments of the Duel, rushes to her side and helps her regain consciousness. Overcome with relief, Téa tearfully embraces Yugi. Together, they set out to reunite with their missing friends.
As they walk through the freezing landscape, Téa begins to struggle due to the cold, wearing only a sleeveless shirt, while Yugi is warmer in long pants and a jacket. Seeing her distress, Yugi selflessly places his coat over her shoulders despite the cold affecting him as well. They stop for a moment as Yugi expresses his concern for their friends, especially Tristan and Serenity, who have little experience with Duel Monsters. Continuing onward, they eventually find a door leading to a virtual courtroom, where Joey is dueling Johnson. They take seats among the audience and watch the match unfold. Joey struggles due to Johnson’s secret cheating, and as his Life Points dwindle, Yugi and Téa grow increasingly anxious. However, they celebrate when Joey ultimately wins. After the Duel, Yugi warns Joey about the danger the remaining Big Five members pose to their less experienced teammates. Determined to protect his sister, Joey rushes off in search of Serenity, with Yugi and Téa following close behind.
The three reunite with Serenity and Duke, who are in the middle of a Duel against Nesbitt. Tristan is missing, having lost his own Duel. When Téa learns of his fate, she falls to her knees in despair. After Serenity and Duke emerge victorious, they discover that Tristan’s consciousness has been transferred into a robot monkey, while Nesbitt has taken over his body. As more Duels take place—including Kaiba vs. Lector, Yugi (as Yami) and Joey vs. the Big Five, and Kaiba vs. Noah—the situation escalates. During Yugi’s Duel with Noah, the villain cruelly petrifies his friends one by one for each turn Yugi fails to defeat him. Téa watches in horror as her friends are turned to stone, remaining the last one standing before finally suffering the same fate. She and the others are eventually freed after Yami Yugi defeats Noah.
Gozaburo Kaiba then appears, forcing the group to flee with Noah’s help. However, Noah betrays them, planning to trap their minds in the Virtual World while escaping into the real world by taking over Mokuba’s body. Ultimately, Noah has a change of heart, realizing his mistakes, and instead helps the group escape. Once they return to reality, they continue their journey to the Battle City Finals.
Battle City Finals
Upon arriving at KaibaCorp Island, the Battle City Finals commence at Duel Tower. Téa supports Yugi and Joey during the Battle Royale that determines the semi-final matchups. She cheers for Joey during his semi-final against Marik and rushes to his side when he collapses from exhaustion.
As Yugi prepares to face Kaiba, Téa expresses concern, fearing the Duel’s potential consequences. However, Yami reassures her that he must face Kaiba to reach Marik and save the world. Understanding his resolve, Téa stays with the others to help Joey recover while still rooting for Yugi.
Near the end of Yugi and Kaiba’s Duel, Joey regains consciousness but initially struggles to recall what happened. Upon remembering, he immediately asks Téa if Yugi has started dueling. She confirms he has, and Joey insists on going to watch, despite still being in critical condition. Téa urges him to rest, warning him about the dangers of pushing himself too hard. However, Joey, reminded of his promise to Yugi, insists on being there. Téa recalls Yami’s determination and ultimately understands Joey’s resolve. Together with Duke and Tristan, they rush to Duel Tower, arriving just in time to witness the Duel’s conclusion.
With Yugi victorious, he advances to the finals to duel Yami Marik. Before the match, Joey challenges Kaiba to a third-place Duel. However, before it begins, Marik takes control of Téa’s body to communicate with Ishizu. Téa, under Marik’s possession, retrieves the Millennium Rod, confronting Yami Marik as Marik speaks through her. Yami Marik attempts to eliminate Marik’s spirit, but Ishizu intervenes just in time. Marik relinquishes control, and Téa collapses. Yugi arrives, worried about her condition, while Ishizu and Yami discuss the situation. When Téa regains consciousness, she is unaware of what transpired. Yugi chooses not to tell her about Marik’s possession.
They rejoin the group to witness the final moments of Joey’s Duel, learning of his defeat. With Joey eliminated, they turn their focus to Yugi’s impending showdown with Yami Marik, the final battle of Battle City.
Yami's Duel with Yami Marik begins, and everyone is tense about the outcome. Téa cheers for Yugi throughout the match but grows increasingly worried as Yami Marik counters Slifer the Sky Dragon and creates a replica of Obelisk the Tormentor. The stakes are even higher as Yugi is slowly pulled into the Shadow Realm with every life point Yami loses, while the good Marik suffers the same fate when Yami Marik takes damage.
During the Duel, Marik temporarily takes control of Téa’s body, urging Yami to continue even though victory would mean his own demise. Once Marik returns to his body, Téa is left confused but quickly refocuses on the Duel. The tide shifts when Odion arrives, giving Marik the strength to briefly suppress his darker half, allowing Yami to secure victory.
Although the Duel is over, Kaiba announces his plan to destroy the island, forcing everyone to evacuate on the blimp. Mai has regained consciousness, and the group finds Bakura, but they realize Kaiba and Mokuba are missing. They search for them but ultimately leave in a helicopter, watching as the brothers depart in their own jet.
Back in Domino City, the group bids farewell to Marik, Ishizu, Odion, Duke, and Mai. The next day, Téa takes Serenity on a tour of the city, reminiscing about the Battle City Tournament. When Serenity has to leave, Téa is momentarily saddened, but Serenity reassures her that they will always be friends. Reflecting on her time with Yugi, Téa realizes she isn't ready to say goodbye to him either and resolves to cherish the moments they have left. She then catches up with Yami.
Pyramid of Light
Yugi, Joey, Téa, and Tristan are leaving school when they come across a large crowd of Duelists eager to challenge Yugi. Joey tells Téa to get Yugi away from the chaos, and they flee, eventually taking refuge in the museum. Téa assures Yugi that no one will look for them there. Inside, they find Yugi’s grandfather, who introduces them to a newly acquired artifact—the Pyramid of Light. As they examine it, they also come across the mummy of Anubis, with ancient inscriptions nearby. When Yugi’s grandfather reads the text aloud, a blinding light engulfs them, and Yugi envisions a Duel against Kaiba where Kaiba is injured. Téa wakes Yugi from his vision, and they realize both the mummy and the Pyramid of Light have vanished.
Later, Téa and Solomon witness an explosion of light from the Kaiba Dome and rush to investigate. They arrive to find a massive blue pyramid engulfing the area, with Mokuba explaining that Yugi and Kaiba are Dueling inside. Téa hopes they are safe. As the ground begins to crack, Pegasus arrives in a helicopter and rescues them. Sensing her friends need help, Téa gazes into the Pyramid of Light, which briefly separates her mind from her body, nearly causing her to fall from the helicopter. Pegasus, Mokuba, and Solomon manage to pull her back in, but her consciousness is transported into the Millennium Puzzle alongside Joey and Tristan.
Inside the Puzzle, Téa recalls the friendship symbol she drew on their hands in the first episode. As mummies rise around her, she panics, and Joey and Tristan attempt to fight them off, but their efforts are futile against the undead. The group is surrounded until Yugi, now within the Puzzle, destroys an eye symbol, saving them.
Téa wakes up next to Joey and Tristan as Yugi reunites with Yami. With the Pyramid of Light card destroyed, they can finally see the Duel. Téa, Joey, Tristan, Pegasus, Mokuba, and Solomon cheer Yami on as he faces Anubis, who takes over after Kaiba is knocked unconscious. Though Anubis loses, he summons a real monster. Kaiba, still injured, entrusts Yugi with a card, which Yugi uses to defeat the beast. Téa and the others retreat for safety. With the battle won, the group reunites, and Kaiba and Mokuba depart. Yugi reflects on the power of friendship before addressing Yami.
Waking the Dragons
Téa stands on the school rooftop, wondering why Yugi left early. Joey and Tristan join her, sharing the same curiosity. They eventually find Yugi at the museum, where they learn the Egyptian God Cards have been stolen. Yugi later Duels Gurimo, introducing them to the Seal of Orichalcos.
The next day, they meet Rebecca, who refers to Yugi as her boyfriend, much to Téa’s irritation. Rebecca takes them to Professor Hawkins, who suggests the recent supernatural occurrences may be linked to Atlantis. Afterward, they all return home.
Later, while at Yugi’s house, he receives a package from Pegasus containing a video. Pegasus urgently requests Yugi’s presence. The next day, the group boards a private jet and later a limo. When the limo breaks down, they are forced to walk, but Téa manages to flag down a driver who offers them a ride to Industrial Illusions.
Later, they board a train to Florida, but it unexpectedly splits apart, separating Téa and Yami from Joey and Tristan. Throughout their time apart, Téa does her best to comfort the Pharaoh, who is distressed over Yugi’s fate, despite struggling with her own emotions. Eventually, they shift their focus to finding Joey and Tristan. They reunite after Kaiba’s plane crashes, and Kaiba’s helicopter transports them all back to confront Dartz.
Dartz seizes control of KaibaCorp, forcing Joey to run off to Duel Valon and Mai. Meanwhile, Téa, Tristan, and the Pharaoh search for Joey, only to arrive too late—his soul has already been taken.
After the Pharaoh’s Duel with Rafael, the team flies to Dartz’s location aboard Kaiba’s helicopter. Kaiba and the Pharaoh challenge Dartz, but when Kaiba loses, the Pharaoh continues the Duel alone while Téa, Tristan, and Mokuba remain unconscious.
The Pharaoh ultimately triumphs. Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey are restored, and Mokuba, Tristan, and Téa regain consciousness. Overjoyed at Yugi’s return, the group shares a heartfelt hug before setting off to confront Dartz one final time. As Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba prepare for their last battle, Téa wishes Yugi luck.
Grand Championship
Téa plays a minor role in the Grand Championship arc but remains a loyal supporter of Yugi and Joey throughout their Duels.
She quickly takes a disliking to Vivian, primarily due to her own feelings for Yugi. Frustrated by the constant chaos around her, Téa frequently remarks, "I need some female friends" whenever the group gets on her nerves.
Capsule Monsters
At the start of Capsule Monsters, Téa and Yugi are seen playing the Capsule Monsters board game. When Joey wins four tickets to India, Téa has an uneasy feeling about the trip.
During the flight, she gazes out the window and comments on the vast wilderness below. Yugi observes that Téa seems more excited about the journey than anyone else.
After they enter the Capsule Monsters world, Téa’s only desire is to return home. While being pursued, she summons "Happy Lover" from a capsule to restore power to Tristan’s "Thunder Kid." Later, when the group is attacked by "Wood Remains" and "The Wandering Doomed," she releases "Dark Witch" to defend them.
Téa is entrusted with a magical pendant, which changes color each time they pass a test. During the second test, she stays behind to care for Yugi, who is exhausted from the first trial. In the fourth test, while being attacked by "Jirai Gumo," she successfully summons "Seiyaryu" and counterattacks.
Dawn of the Duel
Téa, Tristan, and Joey accompanied Yugi to Egypt to help the Pharaoh uncover his lost memories. During this arc, Téa had a noticeable change in attire, now wearing white heels, a red skirt, and a black sleeveless top.
The Pharaoh presented the Egyptian God Cards to the Tablet of Lost Memories, triggering the Shadow RPG, where he would relive his past. However, after realizing Yami Bakura had followed him, the group pursued the Pharaoh to offer their support.
Later, Téa deduced that the key to stopping Bakura was revealing the Pharaoh’s true name, as it would unlock his lost memories. The group was soon betrayed by Tristan, who had been possessed by Bakura and nearly killed them. They managed to save themselves by leaping to a cliff. Téa pulled Yugi up as he held onto Joey, and together, they rescued him. When they found Tristan, he revealed he had been under Bakura’s control and Dueled Yugi.
Téa took note that Yugi had to Duel without Yami’s help, yet he still emerged victorious. When they reunited with Yami, they helped him recall his true name by reconstructing the symbols on a necklace-like item. Once the Pharaoh remembered his name—Atem—he was able to summon The Creator of Light and defeat Zorc Necrophades, ultimately restoring peace. With the battle won, the group returned to the real world.
Ceremonial Battle
Téa struggled with the idea of Atem moving on to the afterlife. While she believed he deserved to reunite with his past and finally find peace, she also didn't want him to leave due to her deep feelings for him. Throughout this emotional turmoil, she maintained a cheerful front around Yugi and Atem, even as she silently battled her conflicting emotions.
At the start of the Duel, she outwardly supported Yugi’s victory but secretly hoped Atem would win so he wouldn’t have to leave. However, as the battle progressed, she found herself genuinely cheering for Yugi, surprising even herself with how her feelings shifted.
Despite Yugi ultimately winning, Téa’s feelings for Atem remained strong. As the Pharaoh prepared to pass through the gates of the afterlife, her sorrow overwhelmed her, and she instinctively tried to run after him. However, Joey stopped her before she could reach him. The group then solemnly looked up at the Egyptian sky, marking the end of their journey as the anime concluded.
The Dark Side of Dimensions
As high school graduation approached, Téa and her friends—Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Bakura—discussed their future plans. Having recently been accepted into a study-abroad program, Téa planned to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer.
While at a mall, Téa, Yugi, Honda, and Bakura had lunch at Duke’s café, where they were served by Ryuji. As they talked about the recent disappearances happening around the city, Bakura speculated that the culprit might be watching them. However, Téa dismissed his concerns, attributing his paranoia to the group of obsessive girls stalking him. When Joey, who was also working at the café, got into an argument with Honda, Téa attempted to intervene, only for Joey to ignore her and eat her ice cream instead.
After a graduation rehearsal, Aigami befriended Téa and her friends as part of his plan to get close to Yugi, the vessel of the Pharaoh. The group went bowling and later had a meal at Burger World. However, this newfound connection led to the sudden disappearances of Joeyi and Bakura. Téa learned about Joey’s disappearance when Tristan found his bike and Duel Disk abandoned. She joined Yugi and Tristan in searching for him and, after they found Tristan, listened as he refrained from revealing that he had been saved by a mysterious apparition, instead prioritizing their search for Bakura.
At Kaiba Land, Téa witnessed Yugi’s Duels against Aigami and Kaiba. During Yugi’s match with Aigami, she was reunited with Bakura.
After graduation, Téa departed for her studies abroad, bidding farewell to her friends at the airport.
Trivia
- Téa is one of the few characters in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise who has never lost a Duel she participated in, having defeated Mai Valentine and Crump of The Big Five (though she received help from Dark Magician Girl in the latter match). The only other characters with an undefeated record are Serenity Wheeler and Rin.
- She is the only female lead in the series who has never Dueled the main protagonist. However, she did play Capsule Monsters with Yugi, where she was winning.
- Téa is never mentioned in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, but she briefly appears on a flier that Jaden Yuki picks up, alongside Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Kaiba. Since this occurs when Jaden travels to the past, it suggests that Battle City V2 takes place after Battle City but before the Ceremonial Battle.
- Her Japanese name, Anzu, means "apricot," while Mazaki translates to "Cape of Truth."
- Her English name, Téa, is derived from "Dorothea" or "Theodora," meaning "gift of God." Her surname, Gardner, may stem from "guard" or "guardian," reflecting her role as Yugi’s protector. It could also be a playful nod to tea and gardening.
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