Nico made a brief appearance in a flashback where Reiji Akaba visits an Underground Duel Coliseum looking for skilled Duelists. Nico takes him to Shun Kurosaki, explaining that he is an extraordinary Duelist with sharp physical and mental abilities, but chose to Duel in that place instead of participating in official matches - because rather than money or applauses, he sought a serious and genuine battle.[1]