Epic rivalries are one of the best parts of shonen anime. The conflicts create tension and even provide a lot of exciting action. It is also fun for fans to root for their favorite person to win. Unfortunately, despite the hype shonen rivalries spark, some conflicts make no sense.
While many fights have legitimate grounds for their characters’ ill will, there are just as many confusing and unnecessary rivalries. These particular grudges seem insignificant overall. No matter how much an anime tries to tell audiences that these rivalries are legitimate, fans are still confused about why these rivalries started in the first place.
10 Kakeru Sengoku Despises Izumi Miyamura
Horimiya
Kakeru Sengoku and Izumi Miyamura become rivals after Miyamura’a girlfriend, Kyouko Hori, is accused of not completing much-needed work for the Student Council in Horimiya. When Sengoku makes a public scene to chastise her, Miyamura steps into to right the situation.
While it is understandable that Sengoku might feel ashamed for falsely accusing Hori, his continued annoyance at Miyamura seems unjustified. After all, Miyamura was not only defending his girlfriend, but ensuring that Hori was not blamed for a crime she did not commit.
9 Inasa Yoarashi Has Bad Run-ins With The Todoroki Family
My Hero Academia
Since he was a child, Inasa Yoarashi loved the Pro Hero, Endeavor. However, when he finally got the chance to meet his favorite hero, Yoarashi was unceremoniously snubbed. Years later, he got a second chance of sorts when he competed against Endeavor’s son, Shoto Todoroki, for a special recommendation. Eager to talk to another Todoroki, Yoarashi introduced himself, only to be snubbed a second time.
From then on in My Hero Academia, Yoarashi developed a grudge against Todoroki simply because his snub reminded him of Endeavor’s indifference. The bad blood is so strong that Yoarashi challenges Todoroki again during their licensing exam, which makes them both fail. It is still baffling that Yoarashi would risk his Pro Hero career just to settle a one-sided feud based on two looks.
8 Ami Kawashima Worries That Taiga Aisaka Will Tell Her Secret
Toradora!
Ami Kawashima and Taiga Aisaka are at odds from the onset in Toradora!. Taiga dislikes Ami for her deceptive personality, while Ami tries to frighten Taiga into keeping her persona a secret. The feud becomes so toxic that the girls end up having a physical fight at school.
While their rivalry deepens because of their shared feelings for Ryuuji Takasu, the initial reason for their hatred does not make sense. Not only could Taiga have just avoided Ami, but Ami did not have to bully Taiga just to keep her secret. The whole situation was petty and based on perceived assumptions of each other.
7 Louis Is Jealous Of Legoshi's Chill Personality
Beastars
Louis and Legoshi are fellow drama club members in Beastars. Although Legoshi works behind the scenes and likes to keep to himself, Louis has developed a hatred for him that is completely one-sided. Seemingly angered by Legoshi’s lack of confidence, Louis regularly bullies and mocks Legoshi to make himself feel better.
While the boys would later have more of a reason to dislike each other (namely, Haru), Louis’s dislike of Legoshi is nonsensical. Had Louis simply left Legoshi to his own devices, there was hardly any reason for them to interact at all. Louis’s jealousy of Legoshi’s calmness causes much unnecessary strife for both of them.
6 Mai Resents Maki For Forcing Them To Become Sorcerers
Jujutsu Kaisen
Maki and Mai Zenin are twin sisters who grew up in a family full of Sorcerers in Jujutsu Kaisen. As such, the two girls were pressured into becoming Sorcerers themselves. Yet, Maki was not blessed with the ability to see Cursed Spirits, and Mai did not particularly want to become a Sorcerer.
Despite these factors, Maki’s desire for rebellion led to both sisters becoming Sorcerers-in-training. Though they go to different schools, Mai resents Maki for forcing her into the Sorcerer life. However, were it not for Maki, Mai would be stuck in the Zenin clan as little more than a maid with no freedoms or opportunities. Fighting Cursed Spirits is treacherous, but Mai should thank Maki for getting them both out of a neglectful and abusive situation.
5 Eren Yeager Betrays His Brother Zeke For Mass Destruction
Attack On Titan
Eren Yeager has always harbored hatred in his heart. But no grudge is as strong as the loathing he feels for the Titans that stalk the lands beyond the walls in Attack on Titan. When he eventually discovers that other human countries lie beyond the sea and that he has a half-brother, Eren seems to take it all in stride. He and Zeke even team up for a time.
Unfortunately, this feigned camaraderie was Eren’s attempt to get closer to Zeke to get the information he needed to start The Rumbling. While it is understandable why someone would be against Zeke’s Eldian sterilization plan, Eren’s choice to betray his brother and begin The Rumbling makes no sense when considering how many innocent Eldian lives will be lost in the process.
4 Azami Nakiri Hurts Students Because Of A Grudge Against Joichiro Yukihira
Food Wars!
Azami Nakiri tries to take over Totsuki Academy and erase all forms of cooking except for haute cuisine simply because his Senpai graduated in Food Wars!. Joichiro Saiba was Azami’s idol, but when Joichiro left to travel the world after graduation, Azumi felt abandoned and blamed Joichiro's quest for new and different cuisines. However, the final straw seemed to be when Joichiro left a second time (after being Azami’s daughters’ personal chef) to return to his own family and work in a diner.
Azami’s one-sided rivalry with Joichiro makes no sense, as Joichiro was simply doing what all people do when they graduate. Even when he left the Nakiri residence, it was so he could take care of his son full-time upon his wife’s death. Azami’s hatred is selfish and cruel to all the creative students at Totsuki because he felt abandoned by a man doing his job.
3 Shoya Ishida Terrorizes Shoko Nishimiya Because She's Deaf
A Silent Voice
Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya first meet in elementary school when Shoko enrolls as a new student in A Silent Voice. Shoya and the class learn that Shoko is deaf, and they all take this news very badly – for no reason. In a completely ridiculous set of actions, Shoya takes it upon himself to bully Shoko as much as possible.
Despite Shoko simply trying to make friends, Shoya and his posse do nothing but make her life a living nightmare. Shoya even destroys her hearing aid at one point, a device that is not only expensive, but helps her be more like her peers to begin with. Shoya’s vendetta against Shoko was unwarranted and unconscionable.
2 Natsu Dragneel And Gray Fullbuster Are Rivals Based On Magic Style Alone
Fairy Tail
Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster have been rivals for as long as anyone can remember in Fairy Tail. However, no one seems to remember why. Lucy Heartfelia and others believe it is due to their different magic styles, but the true reason remains unknown.
The two young men bicker and compete against each other at every chance they get. Their rivalry, while fierce, makes no sense because no one knows why they are fighting.
1 DIO Brando Exacts His Revenge on Johnathan Joestar Just Because
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Johnathan Joestar and DIO Brando become quasi-step brothers when DIO is taken in by Johnathan's family in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. However, DIO is seemingly jealous of the privilege that Johnathan enjoys and seeks to destroy it (even though he enjoys the same luxuries). DIO then sets out to kiss Johnathan’s crush first and escalates his plans to destroy the entire Joestar estate after becoming a vampire.
While this all sounds extreme, DIO takes it even further by attaching his own head to Johnathan’s dead body and continuing to terrorize Johnathan’s descendants for generations. DIO was out to exact the ultimate revenge for no particular reason whatsoever.