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1Innocent and Sweet. A perfect Happy December drama to de-stress.
“School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To” is the perfect stress-relief and happy drama to watch in December. It’s cozy, charming, adorable and a breath of fresh air.It’s easy to get into the cliche “Four Heavenly Kings” trope and have these guys be stand-offish and full of themselves. Yet, we have four guys who are friendly dorks who are just like any normal teenagers. They just so happen to be very handsome.
It’s also easy to have a drama about first love with shy, naive characters who don't utter a word and always look like they’re the victim. But no, Hioki might be a little shy and starstruck, but he’s open with his feelings and is not afraid to ask questions, or answer Watarai’s questions.
Although nothing earth-shattering and out-of-the-ordinary happened here, this drama captures first love very shyly and sweetly. We have the guessing of feelings, a little insecurity, but with large doses of sweet caring actions, shy but smitten looks and most importantly, honest communication.
If you are looking for a fluffy and relaxing watch, “School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To” is the perfect choice. But if you are looking for something unique and exciting, this is not it. You might be bored to death with the slow pace. For me, I am in need of happiness, so it fits the bill.
Completed: 12/20/2025 Review #653
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Joy!
I have not felt so good about watching a ‘BL’ in a long time. I hesitate to call it that though. It feels more like a coming-of-age tale with a hint of adolescent romance that will remain with the two of them for the rest of their lives. You never forget your first love; and nothing is ever as impactful as your first love either. It stands unique among all your loves – whether he (or she) is the only one you love for the rest of your life or just one of many you fall in ‘love’ with throughout your life. The first always stands out. The characters in this story are so refreshingly cute and relatable that the time watching this series seemed to have flashed by. This series is impossible to dislike. It hits all the right notes and emotions. It gets close to being overly sweet and Pollyanna but never crosses into being overindulgent. It was ‘puppy-love’ not meant to be taken seriously. This is one of the best coming-of-age stories to come out of Japan in a long time. While I found the actors exceptional, the screenplay top-notch, it just feels too polished to be fully believed however.Was this review helpful to you?
oh to be young...
The story might not be complicated, and the characters might not have awful backgrounds, but this series really punched my heart. Perhaps it might be because it portrays a part of our youth, which will definitely curate how we turn out later in life.I also admire that all of the characters are easy to love. It is like a breathe of fresh air from all the stress in other dramas and even the stress in daily lives. I think, it is the magic of being young. Everything seemed to be easier to explore and to love.
Honestly, this is the best BL I have seen this year.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love, know thyself....
What stood out the most was the complete acceptance by and of everyone. A newly formed group, allowed everyone their freedom to be themselves and proved their loyalty by the protection of each other. Especially Watarai with Hioki . Watarai was drawn to him and very gently he inserted him within the group and himself into Hioki's life.Their moments:
Watarai drew the curtain shielding this gentle bud from the harsh sunlight (everyone's gaze), he held on.
Hioki, eyes closed, resting sofly with the comforting embrace at the beach, he felt safe.
Watarai, speaks his love, he quietly waits.
Hioki's shocking recognition within, blurting out his true feelings, he shared his love. Hioki's awakening is beautiful. Hioki is bold in his innocence and it shows how much he is intune with himself. He doesn't run away, he walks forward in truth always.
I love how Hioki's character is written. He questions but continues believing, growing more sure of himself in every moment. He's unafraid of Watarai's feelings for him. It's new but not unwelcomed. He also did not forget his previous friends for the new ones.
Watarai, also, is a fresh breath. His unashamed adoration opens them up to speculation which he does not deny. He knows with all certainty, Hioki is his love. He doesn't seek his friends acceptance but grateful for it.
What I would have preferred not to be included, the petty jealousy of the female student. Again, not every adversary is a cliche. Given the ages of the students, it's given a pass. The story and direction were good as it gave time to develop the characters. This was cute and so was Hioki. The cast did well and were enjoyable. Yes, I will rewatch.
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Comfort BL Done Right
While I do find this series slow, it’s actually really cute, wholesome, and fluffy. Hioki’s character is the typical timid and awkward teenage guy you see in most JBLs, but his awkwardness makes him endearing. Watarai, on the other hand, is confident, caring, and very protective of Hioki.The series has a lot of quiet moments—lingering glances and small gestures that say more than words. Hioki’s group of friends also adds a lot of charm to the show. It kind of gives off a Boys Over Flowers vibe in BL form, minus the bullying. Speaking of that, I really love how light this series is—there are no bullies or unlikeable characters. Hioki’s friends are supportive and chill, which makes everything feel comforting.
This is the perfect show to watch after a heavy, dark series. It works as a cleansing palate because it’s so soft and calming. Acting-wise, both leads delivered solid performances, especially Kan as Watarai. Their chemistry is good too.
My only complaint is that it’s a super slow burn—they only officially want to be in a relationship in the final episode. It honestly feels like it’s setting up a season 2. That said, I love that Hioki initiated it and asked Watarai to be his boyfriend. It made me giggle, and seeing his confidence and courage was so satisfying. You can really see his character growth.
Overall, I still enjoyed this series despite how slow it is. I’d honestly take a super slow burn over a rushed, unrealistic romance drama.
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Wholesome Story!
I really liked this JBL, honestly JBL's do it very well when it comes to making a good series that is perfectly balance and most of the times it has a lot of chemistry and slow burn which I love overall! This one had it as well, its a very cute slow burn, to the point they don't kiss until the last episode, and that's one of my favorite things a show can do, only reason why I didn't rate it higher was because regardless of me loving the slow burn and all, I wish I had seen a bit more to them and them being a couple, and also slightly more chemistry, like it was there it was just lacking a bit and it was a bit of a noticeable thing. At least for me, regardless it's a solid BL and it's super wholesome and cute! I really love seeing coming of age series, those are so pure. And I'm glad I got to see more of them with the 2 special episode or after story. We got to get a glimpse of them in a relationship, though I wish it was a bit longer, I was still satisfied with everything overall! Decent watch!Overall 7.5/10
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The usual cute BL
Short review for this one.The plot is something we already saw, nothing new, a standard school bl. Hioki is extremely cute, but his personality is kind of standard (bottom standard, shy and clumsy). Same thing for Watarai (cold with everyone, silent). The friendships are so nice: both groups are genuine and safe, my favourite thing of the show. The acting is pleasant: everyone does a good job, nothing feels unnatural. The kiss scene is well performed; the chemistry is there during the show not only between the main couple, but the whole cast. The direction is good, just few shoots could have been better, for example I’m not a huge fan of fish kisses, because they feel so unrealistic (only their first is like this, so I believe it’s a director’s choice). The ending song is my favourite, but the others are enjoyable. I loved the filming: the lighting and colours are fantastic; the settings are classic but nice. The one thing I particularly appreciate is the opening: the frames change three times, following the timeline and the plot. I’m not going to watch the series again, I can still recommend it though. This is a standard drama, cute, good to see if you need some love.
Thank you for reading,
kisses <3
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1Youthful and sweet : loved the friendship aspect
This high school BL is quite classical in its storyline : it is all about the budding romance between introverted Hioki Asahi and popular Watarai Tsukasa that start with a school trip in the beginning of their second year of high school. They go together through all the cliche milestones of Japanese school romance but it is done in such a lovely way that it hits all the marks.The romance was really cute and fluffy : it was a very appeasing watch, devoid of angst and full of green flags. What I loved the most was the group friendship : seeing introverted hero grow in his own skin and feel comfortable with those seemingly unapproachable "F4-type" guys was really satisfying. I loved how the friends acted regarding the main couple romance, it was a breath of fresh air to see them all so open and cool about it.
Acting-wise, I particularly liked Fujimoto Kodai who played Hioki Asahi. He acted well the innocent side of his character with his relatable inner voice. Sometimes that kind of role can be annoying but here, he really found a nice balance, never feeling too weak or wishy-washy. I have more mixed feelings with Kan Hideyoshi who plays Watarai Tsukasa. Sometimes, his fixed glaring eyes on Hioki felt more unsettling than lover like (even if I guess he was aiming for obsessive vibe, it felt a bit forced). Chemistry was alright but not amazing, most of the story is very platonic in itself and sweet but I wish the steam would have been increased as the relationship progressed rather than remaining at a very mild temperature level. Not necessarily because I wanted NSWF scenes but I think the progression on the way they looked at each other peaked a bit too soon and that it never really leveled up as the story progressed.
I enjoyed overall the production value, it was quite standard for high school romance dramas. I liked a lot the opening generic song from DXTEEN, such a earworm.
I would recommend this to people that are looking for a sweet high school BL. It is cute and fluffly, while very classical in its story, it hits the right marks and provide a satisfactory viewing experience.
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A masterclass on how to use clichés properly
While this show present us with clichés often found in highschool BL, it does it in such a good, earnest, heartfelt way that makes me ADORE it. The acting is top notch, the script, the directing, I love everything about this serotonin overload of a show. I really had an amazing time and it became one of the highlights of my week.The actors are so cute and did an amazing job at portraying the characters emotions, they truly embodied the characters. I hope we get a season 2!!! I beg you BL boss.
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It had its strengths! ...I swear
It was a little too cliche. There was nothing new, and it fell in all the same awkward trope/potholes as so many other japanese BL, but what got me through? Good acting. Side and main characters alike. It carried an unimaginative story. I did like the exploration of the difficulties beautiful people face in life.The best acting? Watari's. He created chemistry that just bounced off the other male lead like a brick wall, buuuuut this isn't the first drama with that - and especially not the first BL (people like their uke's clueless, I guess, but it still wasn't there after he confessed his love as well...)
The MAIN reason I'm reviewing this: I loved that they didn't have a sex scene. I'm allowed to say it. Everyone else can be sad, but you've got all those new BL coming out that are having more and more sex scenes, and more and more explicitness in your sex scenes, so I can enjoy this cute fluffy PG BL to my heart's content and fan the producers with palm fronds, praise them to the high heavans, all that I can in order to thank them profusely. BLs are relying more and more on sex to sell and it's coming at the expense of stories and acting, so I'm going to sit here and bask in this sex scene-less BL for as long as I can.
Also Hitori or whatever his name was was absolutely gorgeous in a dress. Props to him.
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Ten big yawns in ten episodes
When this show was first airing, I decided to wait until the whole show was out so I wouldn’t have to wait a week for every episode and deal with the cliffhangers. Honestly, looking back, if I had started watching it then and had to wait for each episode, I probably would have forgotten I was even watching it and dropped the show entirely.High ratings naturally bring high expectations, and I definitely had them. That’s why I can’t even put into words how shocked I was that the reviews didn't match what I was watching.
There is nothing special here; it’s an absolutely generic story that doesn't stand out in any way. Unfortunately, it doesn't even work as a "cozy comfort show," because it simply isn't one. The main characters are rigid, lacking any background, and they come across as empty meat suits with zero depth or layers you could admire and/or relate to. The plot is so mind-numbingly boring that staring at a literal wall would have been more interesting than this. I had to watch it at 2x speed just to get through it and form a complete, well-rounded opinion.
There were dozens of extra long scenes filled with nothing but lingering stares or strange movements from the main characters; scenes that felt excessively long even at double speed. They drag on so much that you literally forget what the scene was even supposed to be about. The sad part is that if we at least had some insight into their background, we could get lost in thought during those long scenes and wonder what was going through their heads. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible here; I just had to suffer through it and wait for the scene to finally end.
Honestly, if you watched the first episode and skipped straight to the last one, you wouldn't miss a thing. You can basically zone out for the entire series and you’d still know exactly what’s going on without missing a beat.
I don't exactly want to criticize the actors since I haven't seen them in anything else, but I do have to mention Fujimoto Kodai's (Hioki Asahi) character. I know he was supposed to be this shy, awkward, introverted teenager - BUT. He was constantly making these absolutely horrid physical mannerisms with his whole body, not just his face, and it was hard to watch. Even if it was supposed to be played like that, I just couldn't stomach it and it wasn't funny.
Overall, the acting was mid/okay and the best portrayed, most believable characters were their friends.
The only saving grace of this show was its visuals and the imaculate vibe it created. It’s the one aspect I can’t find any fault with. And I'm not even mentioning things that simply didn't make any sense in real world.
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Review — School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To
I don’t think I have ever cried this much while watching something that wasn’t sad.
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To is, on paper, a very simple story. A high school setting. A school trip. A boy who ends up in a group he doesn’t really belong to. A quiet, gentle romance that slowly unfolds between Hioki and Watarai. Nothing about it is loud, heavy, or overcomplicated. And yet, for me, it became something deeply emotional, intimate, and unforgettable.
From the very first episode, this series felt warm. Not dramatic warmth — but the kind that slowly settles in your chest. Week after week, every Saturday, I looked forward to it, and it never disappointed. It told its story through small moments: glances, shared silences, awkward conversations, soft smiles. It trusted the viewer to feel rather than be told what to feel, and that trust paid off beautifully.
When I watched the final episode, something unexpected happened. I started crying within the first few minutes — not because the story was sad, not because something painful was happening, but simply because it was beautiful. The tears didn’t stop. They weren’t desperate or heavy; they just kept flowing, as if my emotions had nowhere else to go. I wasn’t grieving the end. I wasn’t empty. I was full.
This series carries an incredible emotional richness despite its simplicity. It captures the tenderness of first love, the vulnerability of feeling out of place, and the quiet comfort of being chosen — not loudly, not dramatically, but sincerely. Hioki’s insecurity and Watarai’s gentle attentiveness feel real in a way that’s rare. Their relationship grows naturally, without forcing conflict, and that made it feel honest and safe.
By the time it ended, I wasn’t sad. I was happy. Completely, genuinely happy. The story didn’t leave a hole; it left warmth. It felt complete. It felt kind.
I can say without hesitation that this is my favorite series of 2025. More than that, within this genre, it has taken my number one spot. I already know I’ll rewatch it — not to relive drama, but to return to a place that feels soft, innocent, and emotionally sincere.
School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To reminded me that a story doesn’t need to be intense or tragic to move you deeply. Sometimes, gentleness is enough. Sometimes, quiet love is the most powerful kind.
And sometimes, beauty makes you cry — not because it hurts, but because it exists.
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