School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To poster
#248 This Week

School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To

School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To  ·  2025, Japan
8.4
1,443 ratings
10
Episodes
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2025

Hioki, a second-year high school student, is separated from his close friends in class and finds himself alone when it comes to deciding on groups for the school trip. However, he is invited by a boy from the same junior…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (6)

When second-year high school student Hioki Asahi finds himself awkwardly separated from his close-knit group of friends during the class trip planning, he faces the dreary prospect of being assigned to a random mix of lone wolves. But a surprising invitation from the school's most popular quartet—the so-called 'Four Heavenly Kings'—changes everything. Led by the quietly intense Watarai Tsukasa, this group of effortlessly cool classmates welcomes Hioki into their fold without judgment or fanfare. What begins as a simple arrangement to fill a spot soon blossoms into something far more significant. Watarai, tall and admired from afar, finds himself inexplicably drawn to Hioki's gentle awkwardness and unguarded sincerity. Through shared meals, stolen glances on the train, and a lost child at a festival, Hioki discovers not only a place where he belongs but also the first stirrings of a love he never expected. The series unfurls with a tender, unhurried rhythm, capturing the quiet thrill of being truly seen. It's a story about the courage to say yes to the unknown, the warmth of friendships that ask for nothing, and the soft, heart-fluttering process of falling in love for the very first time. With its focus on honest communication and genuine care, School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To is a luminous slice-of-life romance that proves sometimes the smallest moments hold the greatest meaning.

E01
1
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 1
Season 1 · Oct 19, 2025
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E02
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 2
Season 1 · Oct 26, 2025
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E03
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 3
Season 1 · Nov 02, 2025
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E04
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 4
Season 1 · Nov 09, 2025
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E05
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 5
Season 1 · Nov 16, 2025
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E06
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 6
Season 1 · Nov 23, 2025
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E07
7
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 7
Season 1 · Nov 30, 2025
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E08
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 8
Season 1 · Dec 07, 2025
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E09
9
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 9
Season 1 · Dec 14, 2025
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E10
10
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Episode 10
Season 1 · Dec 21, 2025
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8.4
out of 10
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fluffy_soul_24
January 2026
9/10
I've watched this three times already and I cry every single time. Hioki and Watarai are everything I ever wanted in a BL couple. The way Watarai looks at Hioki like he hung the moon, and Hioki's shy little smiles... it's too much for my heart. The kiss scenes are so beautifully done – not just fish kisses, but real, tender, passionate kisses that show how much they care. This is my new comfort show when I need to believe in love again. The supportive friend group is the cherry on top. 10/10 fluff, 10/10 romance.
LO
logic_over_fluff
December 2025
6/10
Look, I get why people love this – it's cute, it's sweet, and the leads have good chemistry. But can we talk about how every single conflict is resolved within five minutes? There are zero stakes. Hioki's 'short-sightedness' plot is laughably unrealistic, and the way everyone just accepts Watarai's possessiveness without question feels like wish fulfillment. The female characters are reduced to jealous caricatures. If you want a shallow fluff piece with no plot, this works. But I need more substance from my dramas. Also, the 'I like you whether you're a boy or a girl' line felt like a pandering addition to the original story.
SO
shot_on_film
January 2026
8/10
Visually, this drama is a feast. The cinematography uses soft lighting and warm color grading that makes every scene look like a memory from a perfect summer day. I especially loved the beach scene with the sunset and the way they framed Watarai's longing gazes through windows and reflections. The attention to detail in costumes – Hioki's oversized sweaters versus Watarai's crisp uniforms – subtly emphasizes their personalities. Even the editing is thoughtful, lingering on meaningful pauses. Production design is top-tier. If only the writing matched the visual beauty, but as a purely aesthetic experience, it's a joy.
NP
novel_purist_99
January 2026
7/10
As someone who read the original novel before the adaptation, I was both pleased and a little frustrated. The drama captures the sweet, slow-burn essence perfectly, and most of the key moments are there – the curtain scene, the lost child, the final confession. However, the added line 'I like you whether you're a boy or a girl' is not in the book and feels like a concession to straight audiences rather than an organic character moment. Also, Watarai's possessiveness is slightly toned down in the novel, where he's more subtly protective. That said, Fujimoto Kodai and Kan Hideyoshi perfectly embody Hioki and Watarai – their chemistry is even better than I imagined. A solid adaptation overall.
CM
consent_matters
March 2026
7/10
I appreciate that this drama tries to be progressive – the friend group is non-toxic, Hioki's character is not feminized, and communication is prioritized. But I have concerns about the depiction of possessive behavior. Watarai's jealousy, while sometimes cute, can border on controlling, and the narrative doesn't critically examine that. The female characters are also poorly written – they exist only to be jealous or to create obstacles for the main couple. In 2025, we should be past the 'catty girl' trope. On the positive side, Hioki's agency is refreshing: he questions, he speaks up, and he ultimately initiates the official relationship. The show's heart is in the right place, but it could have been more thoughtful.
MM
melody_memories
February 2026
8/10
The OST for School Trip is subtle but perfectly integrated. The main theme, a gentle piano melody, swells at just the right moments – during the first kiss, the beach embrace, the final confession. It never overwhelms the dialogue but enhances the emotional weight. I also love the insert song that plays during the scene where Watarai draws the curtain around Hioki's bed; it's soft and dreamy, like falling asleep to a lullaby. While the soundtrack isn't as iconic as some other JBLs, it's carefully crafted and adds a layer of nostalgia to the viewing experience. I've already added the piano version to my study playlist.