The following contains spoilers for Episode 8 of Komi Can’t Communicate Season 2, “It's Just the School Field Trip,” now streaming on Netflix.
It's time to visit Kyoto, and Komi and her friends couldn't be more excited about their tour of the big city. Viewers finally get the chance to meet the rest of Class 1-1, who have predominantly remained in the shadows of their louder and more colorful classmates until now. Their teacher has divided the teens into groups of three, creating the most awkward combinations possible and separating Tadano and poor Komi in the process.
However, things get hot and heavy back at the hotel, and who could expect anything less from a group of hormonal teenagers, free from their parents at last. New relationship dynamics are formed between the classmates in arguably the most entertaining episode of Komi Can't Communicate thus far.
"It's Just a School Trip"
Class 1-1 gathers at the station to catch a bullet train to Kyoto, and as the Class President, Tadano is responsible for ensuring everyone is accounted for. After anxiously waiting since Season 2 episode 7, fans finally get to see how the kids have been divided, and man are things tense with most of the match-ups.
Somehow, Najimi appears in none of the groups but all of the groups simultaneously, as the social butterfly easily fits in with anyone (besides Komi's severely uncomfortable situation, that is). Considering the youngsters are cluster together according to gender is likely the answer to Najimi's independance in this matter.
Group Members: | Issue: |
|---|---|
Agari, Ren and Nakanaka | No Komi |
Inaka, Onemine and Otori | Suspect the Country Bumpkin |
Satou, Yadano and Ushiroda | Intense competition |
Chiarai, Sodana and Shinobino | Class Delinquents acting feminine |
Otaku, Sekimatsu and Samurai | Pretty boys or girls? |
Katai, Tadano and Naruse | Obsessive personalities |
Katou, Sasaki and Komi | All socially awkward |
Once in Kyoto, the class goes sightseeing with the help of their tour guide, Tenjoiun Ryouko. She is rather new at her job, and her nerves begin to get the better of her, emphasizing the fact that adults can also suffer from social anxiety. The young lady attempts to hold the rowdy crowd's attention as she puts all her historical knowledge on display, but the teenagers seem to all be on their own mission. Tenjouin is persistent and continues to sprout facts at the group as they visit the beautiful locations of Ryoan-Ji, Kinkaku-Ji, Nishi Hongan-Ji, and Kiyomizu-Dera. Before she loses all hope, the amateur tour guide notice that Komi and Tadano are paying close attention to her every word, both in awe of the architecture (and the romantic setting).
It's Just A Bath With Bums and Bosoms
It has been a long time since Komi and the gang visited the pool in Season 1 episode 7, and Ren Yamai has been not-so-patiently waiting for her next opportunity to gawk at the Class Goddess in all her (nude) glory. Komi, on the other hand, is overwhelmed by the concept of bathing in public and is less than willing to remove her clothes. Himiko Agari is on the same page, and the pair receive words of encouragement from Onemine, who also advises them to conceal their bodies under a towel.
Agari gains a sudden burst of confidence and releases her bountiful bosom from their confinements, proudly displaying her "mega meatballs" to the world. Komi, however, remains wrapped in a towel as she gets in the bath, and Ren throws all caution to the wind and exchanges her usual mind games for a direct approach. Going straight up to the Class Goddess, the Yandere asks Komi if she could touch her breasts, and most fans are likely as disappointed as the luckless Ren when she is rejected right off the bat.
It's Just A Bath With Bad Boys
Things get even weirder when the boys get a turn to bath, in possibly the most hilarious scene in the entire Komi Can't Communicate series. Naruse and Katai quickly bond over their similarities, both possessing beautifully muscular physiques and the confidence that accompanies it. Naruse shows no shame as he bares it all in a black thong and demands that Katai removes the remainder of his clothes. Next thing viewers know, things look like they've taken a turn towards the Hentai path... but it's just a semi-nude sausage-fest photoshoot, nothing strange to see here.
The class delinquents are majorly impressed by the unclothed muscular men and ask to join in, so the boys change their setting to include the Kyoto skyline with Tadano, the reluctant but enthusiastic photographer. Just as Tadano starts gushing over the fabulous abs before him, Komi walks past and takes in the scene, clearly questioning, well, everything. This is not the first time that Komi has caught Tadano in a compromising position with another guy, and may be getting the impression that she is not what Tadano is looking for after all.
What New Characters?
Several new characters were introduced in this episode of Komi Can't Communicate, or rather, they were there all along but went unnoticed this whole time. Unfortunately, that theme seems to continue, as all the unique personalities introduced within the first few minutes of the train ride were never to appear again. All the attention went to Tenjouin, a side character who is likely to only be relevant during the Kyoto trip. The pretty boys (Otaku, Seikimatsu, and Samurai) would have fit in nicely with Tadano's impromptu photoshoot, adding some extra sexual tension to the already stark man-on-man vibes. The rest of Komi's awkward group could have easily shared in Agari and Komi's embarrassment at negotiating nudity at a public bath, but the opportunity was missed to add depth to Katou and Sasaki's characters. Perhaps they will all pop back into the scene in the next episode when the class trip to Kyoto continues.
Episodes of Komi Can't Communicate are released weekly on Netflix, with Season 2 episode 9 due to air on 22 June 2022.