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| What the Ending of School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Really Means (Photo: TVer) |
The Japanese BL youth drama School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To (修学旅行で仲良くないグループに入りました) has officially wrapped up its 10-episode run, and honestly? It left viewers smiling, overthinking, and clutching their chests all at once.
From awkward school-trip dynamics to quiet first love nerves, this ABC’s Japan series leaned fully into soft romance and emotional realism. The final episode didn’t go for shock value — instead, it chose sincerity, reassurance, and emotional payoff, which feels very on-brand for this story.
Full Recap of School Trip Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Final Episode
The final episode (EP 10) opens right in the middle of emotional turbulence.
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Hioki and Watarai are officially mutual, but that doesn’t magically erase insecurity — especially when old friends, misunderstandings, and unspoken worries collide during the school culture festival.
The festival itself becomes a turning point. Hioki’s class runs a café, Watarai’s group becomes the attraction through cosplay and photo sessions, and suddenly Hioki is surrounded by attention, laughter, and people from both his past and present.
Things wobble when Anna, Hioki’s middle school friend, reappears and casually mentions being contacted by Watarai through social media.
Nothing inappropriate happens, but the uncertainty hits Hioki hard. Watching classmates whisper that Watarai and Anna “look good together” triggers Hioki’s deepest fear — am I really enough?
Hioki pulls away, unsure how to voice his anxiety. That’s when Morisaki, the quietly supportive older brother figure, steps in. His advice is simple but powerful: if you’re unsure, don’t bury it. Say it.
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This leads to the heart of the episode — a rooftop conversation where Hioki finally admits his insecurity. Watarai responds with complete clarity.
He explains that contacting Anna was only to ask about a Christmas gift for Hioki. More importantly, he makes one thing clear: his feelings have nothing to do with gender, circumstance, or coincidence.
They didn’t fall in love because of a school trip.
They didn’t fall in love because of roles or appearances.
They fell in love because it was each other.
The rest of the episode leans into warmth — playful jealousy, natural couple moments, the now-iconic wolf ears confusion, and small everyday gestures that quietly confirm they’re secure together.
The drama ends not with grand declarations, but with comfort. And that’s exactly why it works.
School Trip Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Ending Explained
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The ending of School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To is about emotional certainty.
Hioki’s journey is not about “choosing” love — it’s about believing he deserves it. Throughout the series, he struggles with self-worth, comparison, and the fear of being temporary in someone else’s story.
The finale resolves this by letting Hioki speak his fear out loud — and letting Watarai meet that fear with patience instead of frustration.
Watarai’s response matters. He doesn’t tease. He doesn’t dismiss. He doesn’t over-dramatise.
He reassures.
This tells us the drama’s core message:
Love isn’t proven by intensity — it’s proven by consistency.
Their relationship at the end isn’t flashy, but it’s stable. They’re no longer guessing where they stand. That’s the real “happy ending”.
Characters Wrapped Up
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Hioki Asahi
Starts the story unsure and withdrawn, ends it emotionally honest. His growth lies in learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s connection.
Watarai Tsukasa
Consistent from start to finish. Confident, attentive, and emotionally available. His role isn’t to change — it’s to stay.
Tsujitani Raiku & Badminton Club Friends
Loud, supportive, and unexpectedly emotionally intelligent. They provide humour without undermining sincerity.
Morisaki (Older Brother Figure)
A quiet standout. Represents emotional maturity and the importance of guidance without judgement.
Anna
Not a rival, but a narrative tool. Her presence forces honesty rather than conflict.
TL;DR + Short Review
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A gentle BL finale that chooses reassurance over drama and emotional honesty over spectacle.
Verdict: 4.3/5
Warm, sincere, and emotionally grounded. Not groundbreaking, but deeply comforting.
FAQ
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Is the ending happy or sad?
Happy. Softly, reassuringly happy.
Will there be a Season 2?
Unlikely. The original novel has no sequel, and the story feels complete.
Could Season 2 happen anyway?
Fans would love to see university life or post-graduation chapters, but expectations should remain low. Most BL adaptations only continue when source material does.
Is this worth watching if you like slow romance?
Absolutely. This is a feelings-first BL, not a plot-heavy one.
Your Thoughts?
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To doesn’t try to reinvent BL storytelling — it refines it.
The finale proves that sometimes, the most satisfying endings are the quiet ones, where characters simply choose each other without hesitation.
If you’ve watched it, did the ending comfort you the way it was meant to? And if not — this might just be the softest BL you didn’t know you needed.