These days, most card game enthusiasts meticulously sleeve their decks, stash them in dedicated deck boxes, and even go all out with humidity control for rare and valuable cards. In official Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments, card sleeves are practically mandatory. But for some players, childhood memories of lugging cards around were a lot less... *precious*. 
Recently, Japanese X user "１６ビット（@favoga_）" dropped a seriously nostalgic photo: a stack of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, completely unsleeved, no deck box in sight – just a good old rubber band holding them together.
The user captioned the post, "Kids today probably can't imagine, but this was totally normal back in the day." That blast from the past hit hard, sparking a wave of nostalgia among players.
The early days of card gaming were a whole different beast. Back then, the concept of "official" products wasn't as widespread, and bootleg or counterfeit cards were everywhere, especially around schools. For a lot of kids, these cards weren't high-value "collectibles"; their real worth was how easily you could carry them for an impromptu duel with friends after class. 
This rather... *rugged* method of card transport ignited a full-blown discussion in the comments about "childhood card storage." Netizens recalled that besides rubber-banding their cards, they'd often just duel directly on park floors – no fancy playmats needed. 
Some users shared memories of stuffing their cards into those iconic blue plastic "Duel Masters" deck boxes. Others mentioned that when they were deep into Yu-Gi-Oh! about 25 years ago, they were already rocking black card boxes to carry their decks.
And then there were the layered toolboxes! These spacious, compartmentalized boxes weren't just for cards; they were also perfect for storing Mini 4WD cars or Beyblades – basically, the ultimate childhood utility kit. 
But contrast that casual past with today's Yu-Gi-Oh! which boasts a highly developed competitive scene. Players entering official tournaments are typically required to use card sleeves. This prevents "marked card" issues where creases, wear, or other visual differences on the card backs could allow specific cards to be identified.
So, while cards might have gotten a little warped from those rubber bands back in the day, those carefree dueling sessions from an era without complex chain rules or sky-high card prices remain unforgettable memories!