What Happens In The Drifting Classroom, Vol. 1 Ending?

The first volume of 'The Drifting Classroom' ends with a chaotic and unsettling climax that leaves readers gripping the edge of their seats. After an entire elementary school mysteriously vanishes from present-day Japan and finds itself stranded in a desolate, apocalyptic wasteland, the kids are forced to confront their worst fears. The volume builds tension steadily, culminating in a brutal showdown between the students and their increasingly unhinged teachers. One of the most shocking moments involves a teacher completely losing it and attacking the children, only to be stopped by the protagonist, Sho, in a desperate act of self-defense. The ending doesn’t offer any easy answers—instead, it leaves the school’s fate hanging in the balance, with no clear way back home and survival becoming the only priority.

The emotional weight of the ending hits hard because you’re seeing these kids, some as young as six, grappling with sheer terror and the collapse of adult authority. The artwork by Kazuo Umezz amplifies the horror, with distorted faces and eerie landscapes that make the situation feel even more hopeless. What sticks with me is how the story doesn’t shy away from the raw, ugly side of human nature under pressure—betrayals, panic, and even violence erupt as the reality of their isolation sinks in. By the final pages, you’re left with a gnawing sense of dread, wondering how these children could possibly endure what’s coming next. It’s a masterclass in horror manga storytelling, blending psychological terror with survival drama in a way that feels brutally real.