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| School Trip Season 2: Kodai Fujimoto and Hideyoshi Kan Return for a New Chapter of the Japanese BL Romance. (Photo: Yahoo JP) |
School Trip Season 2 is officially shaping up to be one of the Japanese BL dramas to keep an eye on in 2026, with the new series set to premiere on 17 October 2026 on ABC TV in Japan. Officially titled School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To Season 2, the follow-up picks up after Asahi Hioki and Tsukasa Watarai finally admit their feelings, only to discover that getting together is apparently the easy part. Now they have to survive their final year of high school, different classes, jealousy, changing priorities and the rather inconvenient question of what happens after graduation.
The second season moves away from the excitement of the school trip that shaped the first chapter and puts the couple into a much more ordinary setting. That means fewer convenient romantic moments and considerably more of the awkward reality that comes with trying to maintain a relationship while dealing with school, classmates and an uncertain future.
In other words, School Trip Season 2 is ready to test whether Hioki and Watarai can actually function as a couple when there is no exciting excursion conveniently pushing them into each other's orbit.
The biggest change comes when Hioki and Watarai are assigned to different classes during their third year. Their separation naturally means fewer casual encounters, fewer opportunities to spend time together and plenty of room for misunderstandings to creep in.
For Hioki, who has already struggled with confidence, the distance is likely to make his worries even louder, particularly when Watarai's popularity means he is rarely short of attention from other people.
That tension becomes more complicated when Watarai's past starts to matter. References to a former girlfriend introduce a new source of uncertainty for Hioki, forcing him to confront feelings of jealousy and insecurity that were easier to ignore when their relationship was still new.
The drama therefore appears less interested in presenting romance as a permanently perfect state and more willing to explore the small frustrations, doubts and misunderstandings that come with actually being together.
At the centre of the story is Kodai Fujimoto, who returns as Asahi Hioki, an initially quiet and unassuming student whose confidence gradually changes after he becomes involved with a group of more popular classmates.
His relationship with Watarai remains the emotional core of the series, but Season 2 gives Hioki more room to deal with his own insecurities and the possessive side of his personality as he learns what being in a committed relationship really requires.
Opposite him is Hideyoshi Kan as Tsukasa Watarai, the charismatic and widely admired student whose confidence and popularity make him almost the complete opposite of Hioki.
Watarai is devoted to Hioki and generally patient with him, but his previous experiences and the attention he receives from others create new complications. The appeal of the pairing lies largely in that contrast, with Hioki's uncertainty constantly meeting Watarai's more assured personality.
The two leads are also expected to remain the main draw for fans who became invested in their pairing during the first season. Behind-the-scenes material has already given viewers a glimpse of the actors' comfortable dynamic, helping fuel interest in how that chemistry will translate into the more mature relationship explored in the new episodes.
While direct cast interview quotations have not been provided in the available material, the promotional footage itself has done plenty to suggest that Fujimoto and Kan remain comfortable carrying the story together.
The series continues to combine coming-of-age romance, romantic comedy and Japanese school life, with the tone expected to remain lighter than the more dramatic relationship stories that often dominate the genre.
Humorous dialogue, warm school settings and the everyday awkwardness of young romance should give the second season plenty of room for quieter moments between the bigger emotional developments. It is the sort of series where an innocent conversation can apparently become a full relationship crisis, which is very much part of the charm.
Production is being handled by ABC Company, with Takehiro Shindo, Hirokazu Fujisawa, Takuya Hasegawa and Goro Yasumi attached as directors. Shindo has previously worked on Cosmetic Playlover, while the wider directing team brings several perspectives to the new season.
The story is adapted from Kakuregi Uzura's novel and manga Shugakuryoko de Nakayokunai Group ni Hairimashita, continuing the source material's focus on school relationships, friendship and the uncomfortable transition towards adulthood.
Music will also play a role in maintaining the energetic youth-oriented atmosphere, with performances from Japanese groups GNJB and DXTEEN contributing to the soundtrack. That should complement the series' bright presentation and help maintain the youthful mood even when the storyline turns towards the more uncertain subject of life after school.
For viewers in Japan, School Trip Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on ABC TV on 17 October 2026. International availability is expected to expand, with platforms such as GagaOOLala and Rakuten Viki anticipated as possible destinations for overseas audiences, including viewers looking for English-subtitled episodes.
However, the international streaming arrangement and regional availability should be confirmed closer to release, as platforms and territories can vary.
For international fans hoping to watch with English subtitles, the best approach is to keep an eye on the official listings for GagaOOLala and Rakuten Viki as the October premiere approaches.
GagaOOLala is expected to serve audiences outside several Asian territories, while Viki may provide English subtitles and additional regional language options depending on licensing. More platforms could also be announced before or around the Japanese broadcast, so the international viewing picture may become clearer closer to release.
What fans can expect from Season 2 is a noticeable shift in the relationship itself. The first chapter was largely about Hioki and Watarai recognising their feelings and finding the courage to act on them.
The sequel asks a more interesting question: what happens when two people who finally got together have to deal with everyday life? Different classrooms, past relationships, jealousy, school pressure and the approaching end of high school all give the couple considerably more to worry about than simply whether they like each other.
Fan reactions have understandably varied. Some viewers are excited to see Hioki and Watarai continue their relationship and are particularly interested in the new challenges created by their different classes.
Others are more cautious about the jealousy storyline and the possibility that the second season could lean more heavily into misunderstandings. There is also plenty of curiosity around whether the warm, funny atmosphere of the first season will remain intact now that the characters are moving closer to graduation and adulthood.
Ultimately, School Trip Season 2 looks set to make its romance a little less idealised and a lot more relatable, while keeping the humour and chemistry that made the pairing appealing in the first place. With Kodai Fujimoto and Hideyoshi Kan returning, a confirmed 17 October 2026 Japanese premiere and international streaming details expected to develop soon, there is already plenty for BL fans to watch for. Will Hioki and Watarai make it through their final school year without another romantic disaster, or are we all about to spend several episodes watching two teenagers overthink perfectly normal conversations?