The following content contains spoilers from KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! Season 1, episode 3, currently streaming onCrunchyroll.As manyKonoSubafans already know, Megumin is far from being the “people-pleasing” type; she has a mission in life (toexcel at Explosion Magicto achieve world domination) and nothing will get in her way! Friends? Who needs them? Her classmates are her greatest competition, after all; and besides, they will only weigh her down.
So when Yunyun dramatically declares war, Megumin is not phased in the slightest; she’s got bigger fish to fry! She happily accepts the wager and continues on her supposedly solo quest, however, with one particular arch-nemesis regularly in tow.
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Megumin’s (Bruised) Ego
From up on her high horse, Megumin perceives Yunyun to be little more than an irritating, needy, parasitic softy who always needs someone to hold her hand. Furthermore, Yunyun’s chuunibyou skills are,quite frankly, an embarrassment.Megumin is clearly much better off if she distances herself from this dead weight. Well, apparently that is easier said than done because, despite her sweeping declaration, Yunyun is desperate to find some friends, a position she undoubtedly wants Megumin to fill. And if that doesn’t work, she can always cozy up to a cactus!
Dodonko and Funifura have noticed Yunyun following Megumin around like a lost puppy andembark on a rescue missionto save the desolate girl from constant rejection. Well,allegedly; it’s not like they don’t have anything to gain from teaming up with the Chief’s impressionable daughter. But nevertheless, when those dreaded group projects suddenly crop up during class, at least Yunyun isn’t left in the cold, as she now has Dodonko and Funifura to turn to!
“Jealousy Makes You Nasty”
This whole setup is surely a blessing in disguise for Megumin because Yunyun is now somebody else’s problem, right? Maybe not, seeing that the aspiring Explosion expert gets a validating ego boost every time Yunyun comes sniffing around for attention. Additionally, her superiority complex gets stroked whenever Megumin allows Yunyun in her proximity or sacrifices her own social standing to grant this weakling access to her amazing aura. But now Dodonko and Funifura have stolen these moments away.
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The constant “confrontation” seems to be getting to Megumin, as she even offers Yunyun an out, stating that if she rescinds the rivalry, thenperhaps they could be friends.But as always, the disruptive duo intervenes to recruit Yunyun into their folds, causing Megumin to be rejected (albeit, backhandedly.) Despite her best attempts, Megumin fails to hide her jealousy, which prompts her to suddenly becomes a friendship expert (despite her limited experience) and start dishing out lectures about what qualifies as true companionship. Quite protective, for someone who doesn’t care; maybe cacti have hearts after all!
Megumin and Yunyun: Best Frenemies
If onlookers didn’t know any better, they might assume that Megumin and Yunyun are as thick as thieves. They hang out, chat about books and boys, future aspirations, go shopping together; all thetypical “gal pal” things.Despite the bickering that speckles their sisterly relationship and the fact that she now has options, Yunyun stills find herself inexplicably drawn to Megumin like a moth to a prickly flame. So, after all is said and done, this people-pleaser turns down Dodonko and Funifura’s offer to accompany her home and rushes to Megumin’s side, who is about to venture off into the woods alone. And although the pair don’t have a fighting chance between them (seeing as their only weapon is a rather useless, ornamental dagger… and a cat), they promise to protect each other along their treacherous journey home.
Yunyun’s self-declared vendetta against Megumin has always been rather flimsy and appears to come from nowhere; their childhood interaction with the crayfish all those years ago hardly seems substantial enough to fuel lifelong conflict. As far as the manga is concerned, more emphasis is placed on the girls' progress at the Red Prison, wherebyMegumin is the undefeated queenof the crop. Yunyun maintains her second-place position (which is surprising considering how un-chuunibyou she is) but still isn’t satisfied; as the Chief’s daughter and next in line to inherit the title, Yunyun quest is to be the best of the best, and Megumin is in her way!
Revolving the rivalry around classroom competition makes a whole lot more sense than the anime’s rather random version of events, which gives little explanation for the contention. Furthermore, inKonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!Yunyun gives the impression that Megumin used to be a horrible bully who stole her lunch daily; however, in truth, the eager brownnoser essentially trades her homemade bento boxes for Megumin’s companionship, and shares her meals quite willingly. As to beexpected from anythingKonoSubarelated,the animosity between these two has been grossly exaggerated but provides plenty of giggles in the process!
