Megumi Takahashi

Megumi Takahashi

Megumi Takahashi (高橋 めぐみ Takahashi Megumi) is main character Kimari's childhood best friend in A Place Further Than the Universe.

Megumi regularly gave Kimari advice and support. When Kimari wanted to cut school, Megumi phoned the school to explain the absence, and offered to back up Kimari's story to her parents if she stayed away overnight. She was always looking out for Kimari since childhood, and attached her own self-worth to this. 

This became a problem when Kimari decided to go on the adventure to Antarctica without seeking Megumi's guidance. Megumi became upset and tried to sabotage it with things like telling the older girls about the money, telling Kimari's mom about the trip, and spreading rumors about the girls hanging out in Shinjuku. When Kimari found her own ambitions and followed them, it left Megumi ungrounded.

In Episode 5 Megumi explained it to Kimari,

"Yesterday, when you were talking, I finally realized. You weren't the one hanging on, I was. Having you rely on me, consult with me... me getting exasperated with you, pretending to mother you, acting so smart around you. Because if I didn't have that, I didn't have anything. And because I wasn't anything, I didn't want you to have anything. You're not the one who was worthless. I am!"

Megumi said that she was ending their friendship. However, Kimari refused to accept this and hugged her to show that she valued her. In the end, Kimari learned that Megumi went on her own adventure with a journey to the arctic.

Etymology

• Megumi's surname Takahashi means "tall, high" (高) (taka) and "bridge" (橋) (hashi).

Gallery

Megumi wonders why Kimari aborted her journey

They discuss Kimari's indecisiveness

Megumi explains it all to Kimari

Megumi breaks up with Kimari

Megumi and the Northern Lights (65-73°N)