Plot Summary: What Is School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To About?
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To (original title: 修学旅行で仲良くないグループに入りました) is a Japanese boys’ love drama set in a high school. Its premise starts from a small, familiar fear: being left without a group when classmates pair off for a school trip.
The central character is a socially awkward student who usually stays on the edges of class life. When groups are formed for the trip, he ends up placed with some of the most popular students in his year, people he barely knows and would never have chosen to spend days with. Suddenly he has to share schedules, meals and long stretches of time with classmates whose world feels very different from his own.
Among them is the boy everyone admires, the charming centre of attention at school. Being thrown together during the trip opens an unexpected connection between the two, and romantic feelings begin to surface where neither expected them. The series follows how an awkward outsider handles friendship, nerves and first love once he is away from the usual classroom routine.
Review Guide: What Makes the Series Notable
- Cast: The main ensemble features Kodai Fujimoto as Hioki Asahi, Hideyoshi Kan as Watarai Tsukasa, Masaya Sakuragi as Naoya Morisaki, Ayuta Fukuda as Nakasato Haruki and Kairi Shimizu as Hayato Hotta. Sayaka plays Sagara Yuzuki and Kento Yamada plays Tsujitani Raiku, and Kento Miura appears as Ryoto.
- Broadcaster and network: The series is associated with Viki and ABC TV.
- Directors: Directing is shared by Hirokazu Fujisawa, Takehiro Shindo, Goro Yasumi and Takuya Hasegawa.
- Source material: The drama is based on a book.
- Format: This is a short-episode series, with episodes running about 30 minutes. Season 1 has 10 episodes and premiered on 19 October 2025. Season 2 is listed with 10 episodes and premiered on 18 October 2026, for 20 episodes in total across both seasons.
- Status: The series is still airing, with new Season 2 episodes being released.
Who Will Enjoy It
- Fans of Japanese BL dramas and gentle gay romance stories
- Viewers who like high school settings and coming-of-age themes
- Anyone drawn to stories about shy or awkward characters stepping outside their comfort zone
- Viewers who prefer compact, roughly half-hour episodes
- Readers interested in screen adaptations of books
Where to Watch School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To in the US
In the United States, the series is available on Rakuten Viki, which is listed as a subscription service. Because Season 2 is still airing, new episodes are being added as they are released. The episode guide on this page shows the latest release information.
Cast
Kodai Fujimotoas Hioki Asahi20 episodes
Hideyoshi Kanas Watarai Tsukasa20 episodes
Masaya Sakuragias Naoya Morisaki20 episodes
Ayuta Fukudaas Nakasato Haruki20 episodes
Kairi Shimizuas Hayato Hotta20 episodes
Sayakaas Sagara Yuzuki10 episodes
Kento Yamadaas Tsujitani Raiku10 episodes
Kento Miuraas Ryoto3 episodes
Photo: TMDB
Episode guide
| Season | Episode | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Aired | |
| 1 | 2 | Aired | |
| 1 | 3 | Aired | |
| 1 | 4 | Aired | |
| 1 | 5 | Aired | |
| 1 | 6 | Aired | |
| 1 | 7 | Aired | |
| 1 | 8 | Aired | |
| 1 | 9 | Aired | |
| 1 | 10 | Aired | |
| 2 | 1 | Aired | |
| 2 | 2 | Aired | |
| 2 | 3 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 4 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 5 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 6 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 7 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 8 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 9 | Upcoming | |
| 2 | 10 | Upcoming |
Dates are original broadcast dates in the country of origin (Korea/China). Official streaming platforms in your country may add episodes the same day or later.
FAQ
- How many episodes does School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To have?
- There are 20 episodes listed in total: 10 in Season 1 and 10 in Season 2. Each episode runs about 30 minutes. Season 2 is still airing.
- Where can I watch School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To legally in the US?
- In the US, the series is available on Rakuten Viki, which is a subscription service.
- Who is in the cast?
- The main cast includes Kodai Fujimoto, Hideyoshi Kan, Masaya Sakuragi, Ayuta Fukuda and Kairi Shimizu. Sayaka and Kento Yamada also appear, and Kento Miura plays Ryoto.
- When was the release date?
- Season 1 premiered on 19 October 2025, and Season 2 premiered on 18 October 2026.
- What genre is the series?
- It is a Japanese high school drama in the boys' love (BL) genre, centred on a gay romance and based on a book.
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