History Main / HonoraryTrueCompanion

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** [[TheRival Shadow the Hedgehog]] becomes one of these to Sonic after his HeelFaceTurn. Although he doesn't hang out with Sonic's group like Tails, Amy, and Knuckles and [[ReformedButNotTamed keeps more than a bit of his rivalry with Sonic intact]]; he can usually be counted on to be "[[IWasJustPassingThrough Just Passing Through]]" whenever Sonic really needs him.

** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has several as well. [[TheChosenOne Aang]], [[TeamMom Katara]], [[BadassNormal Sokka]] and later [[TheBigGal Toph]] form the core team (arguably [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Zuko]]]] counts in the final season). However they have a number additional allies like [[EleventhHourRanger Suki]], [[TheMentor Iroh]], [[ActionDad Hakoda]] and others who help them out with some regularity.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the actual Team Avatar consists of [[TheChosenOne Avatar]] [[BadassAdorable Korra]], [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Bolin]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mako]] and [[BadassNormal Asami]] [[BrainyBrunette Sato]], but they have many friends who help them so often that they can be considered extended members: [[TheMentor Tenzin]], [[ChildProdigy Jinora]], [[DaChief Lin]] [[IronLady Beifong]], [[WackyGuy Bumi]], [[CoolAunt Kya]], (starting from Book 3) [[TheTrickster Kai]], [[ActionMom Suyin]] [[DanceBattler Beifong]], and [[SilkHidingSteel Opal]] [[InstantExpert Beifong.]]
** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has several as well. [[TheChosenOne Aang]], [[TeamMom Katara]], [[BadassNormal Sokka]] and later [[TheBigGal Toph]] form the core team (arguably [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Zuko]]]] counts in the final season). However they have a number additional allies like Suki, Iroh, Hakoda and others who help them out with some regularity.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the actual Team Avatar consists of [[TheChosenOne Avatar]] [[BadassAdorable Korra]], [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Bolin]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mako]] and [[BadassNormal Asami]] [[BrainyBrunette Sato]], but they have many friends who help them so often that they can be considered extended members: [[TheMentor Tenzin]], [[ChildProdigy Jinora]], [[DaChief Lin]] [[IronLady Beifong]], [[WackyGuy Bumi]], [[CoolAunt Kya]], and (starting from Book 3) [[TheTrickster Kai]].

* While his exact location and involvement with the larger conflict has varied throughout the series' run, this was how Knuckles the Echidna started out in ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog''. While helping them out when they were in his area, joining up with them when they really needed him and even going on an extended quest to find a legendary sword connected to the royal family, Knuckles could never permanently join the Freedom Fighters because he had to take care of the Floating Island.
* The Beast is prone to mention being an honorary member of Comicbook/TheAvengers far more than being on the team.

* Comicbook/SpiderMan shared this dynamic with the Comicbook/FantasticFour for years. He initially tried to join the team in his early years as a Superhero but was rejected. Despite this he maintained a close bond with the group, [[HeterosexualLifePartners particularly Johnny Storm]]. When Johnny was seemingly killed, Spider-Man was their first choice for a replacement to fill the void.
* In the ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' [[VerySpecialEpisode Very Special Comic Book]] dealing with teen drug use Robin is replaced by The Protector, who is well known to the other Titans and they are implied to have had [[NoodleIncident adventures together]] before this. He even orders them about like he's in charge even though he's explicitly a ''friend'' of the Titans and not a Titan himself. He is Robin with the serial numbers filed off because the comic book was produced by Keebler, and Nabisco owned the Robin cookie license.

* Several examples exist throughout the ''FanFic/TheInfiniteLoops''.

** The ''FanFic/DokiDokiLiteratureClubLoops'' has the [[VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub Dokis]] give [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Blake Belladonna]] an honorary membership card after they bond over mutual love of literature (and their dark backstories). Blake in turn invites them [[FanFic/TheRWBYLoops to her wedding.]]
* In ''The Golden Mean'' from ''FanFic/TheEndOfTheWorld'' series, while none of the four District 10 victors are among the circle of rebel victors in all of the authors earlier stories, all four of them ultimately end up allied with the main character here. The only outright rebel of the four, Toffy, was the only one who'd never gone to the Capitol to mentor at the same time as Haymitch but [[OCStandIn Earl and Kate]], the quell tributes fight and survive alongside of victor-tributes who are part of the rebellion and die without betraying them, while the fourth victor, Mindwell Larue, helps fight the peacekeepers when they arrive at the viewing center to try and arrest Haymitch and the other rebel mentors (several of whom, such as Harris and Philo, also count as this due to having been rebels who'd stayed in the districts before then and also not been part of Haymitch's circle).

* Gen-san from ''VisualNovel/MajiDeWatashiNiKoiShinasai'' almost reads like a parody of this and the IneffectualLoner trope. He lives with the majority of the Kazama family (the protagonist's friend group) and has known and been close to them for longer than the two members who ''officially'' join it over the course of the prologue. He also helps them out whenever they're in a jam, shares tender and intense moments with them, and for all intents and purposes ''is'' a member of the group... but his standoffish {{Tsundere}} personality causes him to always justify himself by claiming to be [[IWasJustPassingThrough Just Passing Through]] (despite, again, ''[[ImplausibleDeniability being their roommate]]'') whenever he does. [[spoiler: He is officially recruited onto the team during the Agave route, and remains recognized as such in the sequel.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''

* The ''FanFic/DokiDokiLiteratureClubLoops'' has the [[VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub Dokis]] give [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Blake Belladonna]] an honorary membership card after they bond over mutual love of literature (and their dark backstories). Blake in turn invites them [[FanFic/TheRWBYLoops to her wedding.]]

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Yuuki Mishima is a subversion. Despite being the Phantom Thieves' chief KnowledgeBroker and public relations guy, the only two members he's really close to are Ryuji and the protagonist. [[spoiler:Through the course of his Confidant, it's revealed that he ''wants'' to play the trope straight, in the hopes that it'll make him "special" too.]]

** Trafalgar Law forms an alliance with the Straw Hats and has essentially been promoted to the unofficial 10th member of their crew. For his part, Law was initially reluctant to treat their alliance as anything more than an EnemyMine situation, but he eventually came around to accept that Luffy sees him as a friend. It's likely he won't join up since, similar to Jimbei, he has other responsibilities, namely his own ship and crew.
** Multiple pirates who the Straw Hats befriended during the Dressrosa arc decide they're going to [[spoiler:declare their allegiance to Luffy, and declare themselves the Straw Hat Grand Fleet]]. While Luffy wasn't interested in having [[spoiler:a fleet]], he accepts their decision and they're each given a piece of his vivre card so they can seek him out when necessary. The exception is [[spoiler:post HeelFaceTurn Bellamy]], who wants to go his own way...but also takes a piece of the vivre card and tells Luffy he'll see him around.
* [[TheMedic Sylphiel]] from ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''. She is a good friend of the main cast, is remembered or missed by the heroes rather often, and even shown in the opening credits alongside the main four, but actually joins the party only for several episodes per season, then is PutOnABus again.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
** Jellal (who is an {{Expy}} of Sieghart from ''Rave Master'') becomes this over time to the guild, as a result of often fighting alongside them despite never actually joining. When he [[spoiler:competes in the Grand Magic Games disguised as Mystogan (his Edolas counterpart, who ''had'' been an elite member of Fairy Tail)]], Mavis, the first master of the guild, says he has the same heart as those in Fairy Tail do.
** As an inversion, [[spoiler: Wendy, one of the main characters and TrueCompanions, becomes this to the Lamia Scale guild after the second TimeSkip. After Fairy Tail disbanded she joined their guild, but after she rejoins the re-formed Fairy Tail the offer to stay part of Lamia Scale still stands, and she's still close to all of them]].
* In post-TimeSkip ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', Galatea is technically not one of the Seven Ghosts (as she has not directly taken part in the Northern Campaign) and never hangs out with them for long (preferring to defend her new home city of Rabona), but she belongs to the same generation and is likewise hunted by the Organization for deserting almost simultaneously with the Ghosts, so they let her in on all their plans and secrets, anyway.

* Moe "Suzu" Suzuya in ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'' is too busy tending the [[FamilyBusiness Suzuya Bakery]] to commit to the Earth Science Club (or any JapaneseSchoolClub for that matter). However she helps with the club's activities so often that the club treats her as if she was a member, anyway.
* ''Manga/NewGame'': At the start of the series, Aoba sits next to two fellow character team members- Yun and Hifumi[[note]]Who moves to sit next to Ko during the PECO arc/second season to make way for the newly hired Momiji[[/note]]- as well as Hajime, who's actually on the motion team. Despite being part of another group, the four girls consider Hajime one of them, especially since their work often requires them to collaborate.
* In ''Anime/{{Shirobako}}'', Aoi's older sister Kaori is considered part of her group of friends, who'd been in the same high school animation club, even though Kaori is significantly older than Aoi, and was most likely not in high school at the same time as her and her yearmates Shizuka and Ema, let alone Misa (one year younger than Aoi) or Midori (two years younger).

* While his exact location and involvement with the larger conflict has varied throughout the series' run, this was how Knuckles the Echidna started out in ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog''. While helping them out when they were in his area, joining up with them when they really needed him and even going on an extended quest to find a legendary sword connected to the royal family, Knuckles could never permanently join the Freedom Fighters because he had to take care of the Floating Island.
* Surprisingly, Franchise/{{Batman}} never officially joined the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}, despite the fact that he is considered a part of their main trio along with Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman.

* Being two teams of TrueCompanions, ComicBook/{{Runaways}} and ComicBook/YoungAvengers take this UpToEleven in that each team treats the other one as whole like this.
* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'': Wipe-Out joins the crew in their misadventure on Troja Major, bonds with them a fair bit (in addition to already knowing two of them), and is even offered a place on the team. However, he politely declines and goes his own way. [[spoiler:[[BackForTheFinale He finally joins them during the grand finale]], teaming up with the various other [[GuestStarPartyMember Guest Stars]] to back up the crew in Cyberutopia and help fight the BigBadEnsemble.]]

* Pat Savage is this to Doc and his aides in the ''Franchise/DocSavage'' novels. She is always willing to help them, and would be a permanent member of the crew if Doc would allow her, but Doc consider his work too dangerous to allow his sole surviving family member to be involved regularly.

* CGIS Special Agent Abigail Boran becomes one for the ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' team once or twice per season, a position which includes affectionate familiarity, lots of harmless flirting, and a strong role in the MysteryOfTheWeek.
* Maj. Dr. Janet Frasier, the CMO of Stargate Command in ''Series/StargateSG1'' was effectively a series regular (despite never appearing in the opening credits) and was treated this way, particularly by Sam, who was apparently her best friend and a surrogate aunt to Janet's adopted daughter. [[spoiler:This made Janet's [[DroppedABridgeOnHim sudden death]] by a stray staff blast in "Heroes" all the more of a TearJerker.]]
** Another example is Maj. General George Hammond, who was the base commander for seven years and is AFatherToHisMen, with a particularly strong fondness toward the members of SG-1. He occasionally joins them off-world, even participating in their rescue at one point, but naturally [[DeskJockey is forced away from regular action because of his job]].
** An even stronger example is Jacob Carter (also a retired [[FourStarBadass Air Force general]]), the father of SG-1 team member Samantha. He is host to a Tok'ra, a race of symbiotic alien who shares a human's body, and because of his military expertise, knowledge of alien technology and tactics, and general savvy, he is a great help to SG-1 on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, he can't ever stick around because the Tok'ra still need him.
** Similar to Jacob is the [[WarriorPoet Jaffa]] Bra'tac, who was a mentor and [[ParentalSubstitute father figure]] to Teal'c. With his sage advice, warrior's cunning, and strong network of contacts in the Jaffa Rebellion, he is a great asset to the people of Earth, but once again he is often called away on his own missions and isn't around to help as much as we might like him to be.

* [[TheFixer Zoe Morgan]] on ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' is this. She isn't going to quit her day job anytime soon, but whenever the team needs it she is more than willing to help. In her case the motive has [[UnresolvedSexualTension something to do with John]].

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': John Diggle's [[AmicableExes ex-wife]]/girlfriend[[spoiler: /wife]] Lyla Michaels, ActionGirl member of A.R.G.U.S., likely qualifies. She'll help Team Arrow immediately when she can, to the point of ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight if necessary, and the team overall is protective of her, getting ''very angry'' whenever [[BadassInDistress her life is in danger]].

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', the core members of the Scooby Gang are Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles. LovableAlphaBitch Cordelia and Buffy's vampire boyfriend Angel would sometimes join them in the early seasons; but the former still does not like being in their presence, and the latter, being a vampire, can't be there during the day.
* ''Series/MillionYenWomen'': Shin and the five women are bound by a set of rules imposed upon them the anonymous person who invited the women to live in Shin's house. By the time the series starts, Shin's frequently-visiting publicist Seiji is on friendly terms with all the women, is unfazed by ShamelessFanserviceGirl Minami walking around the house naked and regularly joins Shin and the women for dinner, the one meal the invitation sender wants all six members of the household to have together. He can't be considered part of the central group due neither living in the house nor being covered by the invitation sender's rules.
* In ''Series/TheExpanse'' Prax Meng flies on the Rocinante to rescue his daughter, slowly becoming something of a ScienceHero with the crew, even [[spoiler: figuring out a way to defeat the protomolecule monster.]] After [[spoiler: saving his daughter]], he returns to Gannymede.
* Dr. Sidney Freedman in ''Series/{{MASH}}'', while he's actually stationed at the evac hospital in Seoul, is often called out to the 4077 for his psychiatric expertise or even just for a poker game. The main characters consider him one of their own and are always happy to see him.

* Carmelita Fox in ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'' has several EnemyMine team-ups with the title character throughout the series, but it's not until [[VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime the fourth game]] that she actually teams up with the Cooper Gang and develops a bond with them. Murray's drawing makes it known that he considers her part of the gang.

* A few of the Disney characters in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. They don't get to join the main group and their only scenes are when Sora visits their world. Ariel from ''Franchise/TheLittleMermaid'' is the most notable example. The first game draws parallels between her desires and Sora's, and Ariel is the only Disney character to worry that she'll never see Sora again. The trio also go through rather a lot of bother to help set her up with Eric in the second game.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** [[TheRival Shadow the Hedgehog]] becomes one of these to Sonic after his HeelFaceTurn. Although he doesn't hang out with Sonic's group like Tails, Amy, and Knuckles and [[ReformedButNotTamed keeps more than a bit of his rivalry with Sonic intact]]; he can usually be counted on to be "[[IWasJustPassingThrough Just Passing Through]]" whenever Sonic really needs him.
%% ** Knuckles also qualifies for this, as he spends most of his time doting over the Master Emerald instead of tangling with Eggman.

* The Fairy Tale Detective is implied to be this to the Red Riding Sisterhood in the ''VideoGame/DarkParables'' games. She initially joins them for one adventure, but when they join forces again in a later game, her familiarity with the members and inner monologue indicate that she's been periodically visiting them and is still their respected and treasured ally. She can't join them permanently, because she has too many other fairy tale mysteries to solve, but they would almost certainly welcome her if she could.

* Gen-san from ''VisualNovel/MajiDeWatashiNiKoiShinasai'' almost reads like a parody of this and the IneffectualLoner trope. He lives with the majority of the Kazama family (the protagonist's friend group) and has known and been close to them for longer than the two members who ''officially'' join it over the course of the prologue. He also helps them out whenever they're in a jam, shares tender and intense moments with them, and for all intents and purposes ''is'' a member of the group... but his standoffish {{Tsundere}} personality causes him to always justify himself by claiming to be [[IWasJustPassingThrough Just Passing Through]] (despite, again, ''[[ImplausibleDeniability being their roommate]]'') whenever he does. [[spoiler: He is officially recruited onto the team during the Agave route, and remains recognized as such in the sequel.]]
* Tita Russell from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky'', is this to the new Class VII in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel III'' where she accompanies them on a few occasions, but never stays in the party long. Then again, one of the students of new Class VII, Musse, is her roommate. In ''The 3rd'', Reis Argent is this in relation to the established Liberl cast. While she has no problem helping the group, she mainly acts as a close friend to Kevin, as the Gralsritter's squire and assistant to his mission. Kevin himself ultimately plays this role, despite his genuine friendship with much of the cast, alas the work of a [[ChurchMilitant Dominion]] is never finished.

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
** This was Red Arrow's role in the first season. Despite the fact that he could've been a founding member of the team, he refused to join because he only thought the Justice League was worthy of his talents. Still being close friends with the other founders he relied on them, backed them up, and threatened people on their behalf.
** [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] also has this dynamic with the team, once they find out he's a kid younger than them. He doesn't join the team because he's already a member of the Justice League, but he hangs out with them when he can because they're his closer to his age. He's part of the group that fights Despero and L-Ron because he was helping Mal, M'gann, and Conner move their stuff from the Hall of Justice.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' has Cornchip Girl, who frequently helps the gang out later in the series and has a ShipTease with Gus but is not part of the core six. Justified as she was several grades below them so not around as much.
* The trope's title is dropped towards Darren in ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger''. He was already pretty tight with the girls before he and Ginger started dating.
--> "Darren's...an honorary BFF."
** Courtney too. She shows herself to be kind-hearted towards Ginger and demonstrates her loyalty in many episodes. One incident has her refer to the three of them as her "real friends".
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the actual Team Avatar consists of [[TheChosenOne Avatar]] [[BadassAdorable Korra]], [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Bolin]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mako]] and [[BadassNormal Asami]] [[BrainyBrunette Sato]], but they have many friends who help them so often that they can be considered extended members: [[TheMentor Tenzin]], [[ChildProdigy Jinora]], [[DaChief Lin]] [[IronLady Beifong]], [[WackyGuy Bumi]], [[CoolAunt Kya]], and (starting from Book 3) [[TheTrickster Kai]].
** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has several as well. [[TheChosenOne Aang]], [[TeamMom Katara]], [[BadassNormal Sokka]] and later [[TheBigGal Toph]] form the core team (arguably [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Zuko]]]] counts in the final season). However they have a number additional allies like Suki, Iroh, Hakoda and others who help them out with some regularity.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''
** Both Shining Armor and Spike are this to the [[FanNickname Mane Six]]. They've [[BigDamnHeroes saved their friends]] several times each (and Spike has saved the day twice, but the two of them don't have Elements Of Harmony. Not that they don't try anyways: Shining Armor typically finds himself incapacitated early on by the threat and Spike is simply too young to regularly fight alongside his pals.
** Starlight from Season 6 and on is an interesting case. Like Spike, she doesn't have an Element of Harmony and she lives with Twilight, but she's gotten more character focus than him since her addition to the show (especially in the "higher stakes" two-parter episodes) in a way which would be typical of many SixthRanger additions in most other media. However, when it comes to her relationship with the Mane Six, the show tends to keep them separate as [[TheFriendsWhoNeverHang she's seen hanging with them even less compared to him]]. Even though she lives in Twilight's castle, out of the main cast she mostly only runs with Twilight and Spike, usually only meeting the other Mane Six through Twilight or when she tags along as the Mane Six go on said two-parter adventures, but seeing her in a one-on-one with the primary cast in SliceOfLife stories is more rare (She has spent time with Pinkie Pie however, who is friends with ''everyone''). Although the show seems to make a distinction between her and the other Mane Cast, to compensate, her own focus episodes tend to follow her with her own set of friends instead. Season 8 addresses this by having Starlight Glimmer spending more time with the Mane Six outside of Twilight, with one episode having Starlight join the entire Mane Six on their special friendship retreat.

* In ''WesternAnimation/XMen'', mutant guest stars, with every right to be on the team, would appear every few episodes, but you'd have to pay for the additional voice acting and everything so they just kind of left and did their own thing.
* Starling is this to the ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks''. Aerrow refers to the team including her as the Storm Hawks Seven, and the team tries to get her to join permanently, but she declines for fear of attachment.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the actual Team Avatar consists of [[TheChosenOne Avatar]] [[BadassAdorable Korra]], [[{{Adorkable}} Bolin]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mako]] and [[BadassNormal Asami]] [[BrainyBrunette Sato]], but they have many friends who help them so often that they can be considered extended members: [[TheMentor Tenzin]], [[ChildProdigy Jinora]], [[DaChief Lin]] [[IronLady Beifong]], [[WackyGuy Bumi]], [[CoolAunt Kya]], and (starting from Book 3) [[TheTrickster Kai]].

** Jimbei as well develops a close relationship with Luffy and is even offered a chance to join the crew. He declines due to other duties but hopes that Luffy will still keep his offer open. [[spoiler:After the timeskip, he subverts this trope and ''does'' join the crew officially as its helmsman.]]

* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':

* In ''Anime/{{Shirobako}}'', Aoi's older sister Kaori is considered part of her group of friends, who'd been in the same high school animation club, even though Kaori is significantly older than Aoi, and was most likely not in high school at the same time as her and her yearmates Shizuka and Ema, let alone Misa (one year younger than Aoi) or Midori(two years younger).

* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' story ''FanFic/TheGoldenMean'', while none of the four District 10 victors are among the circle of rebel victors in all o the authors earlier stories, all four of them ultimately end up allied with the main character here. The only outright rebel of the four, Toffy, was the only one who'd never gone to the Capitol to mentor at the same time as Haymitch but [[OCStandIn Earl and Kate]], the quell tributes fight and survive alongside of victor-tributes who are part of the rebellion and die without betraying them, while the fourth victor, Mindwell Larue, helps fight the peacekeepers when they arrive at the viewing center to try and arrest Haymitch and the other rebel mentors (several of whom, such as Harris and Philo, also count as this due to having been rebels who'd stayed in the districts before then and also not been part of Haymitch's circle).

** Both Shining Armor and Spike are this to the [[FanNickname Mane Six]]. They've [[BigDamnHeroes saved their friends]] several times each (and Spike has saved the day twice, but the two of them don't have Elements Of Harmony nor were they united by the Rainboom that gave the Mane Six their cutie marks. Not that they don't try anyways: Shining Armor typically finds himself incapacitated early on by the threat and Spike is simply too young to regularly fight alongside his pals.

* Gen-san from ''VisualNovel/MajiDeWatashiNiKoiShinasai'' almost reads like a parody of this and the IneffectualLoner SixthRanger tropes. He lives with the majority of the Kazama family (the protagonist's friend group) and has known and been close to them for longer than the two members who ''officially'' join it over the course of the prologue. He also helps them out whenever they're in a jam, shares tender and intense moments with them, and for all intents and purposes ''is'' a member of the group... but his standoffish {{Tsundere}} personality causes him to always justify himself by claiming to be [[IWasJustPassingThrough Just Passing Through]] (despite, again, ''[[ExaggeratedTrope being their roommate]]'') whenever he does. [[spoiler: He is officially recruited onto the team during the Agave route, and remains recognized as such in the sequel.]]

** All survivors of the SuicideMission in ''[[VideoGame/MassEffect2 ME2]]'' who don't rejoin you in part three (conditionally: [[spoiler:Grunt, Jack, Jacob, Kasumi, Legion, Miranda, Mordin, Samara, Thane, Zaeed]]) are treated as TrueCompanions when you meet them.

* A few of the Disney characters in ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. They don't get to join the main group and their only scenes are when Sora visits their world. Ariel from ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'' is the most notable example. The first game draws parallels between her desires and Sora's, and Ariel is the only Disney character to worry that she'll never see Sora again. The trio also go through rather a lot of bother to help set her up with Eric in the second game.

** Marie in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} [[UpdatedRerelease Golden]]'' and especially in its [[Anime/Persona4GoldenTheAnimation anime adaptation]] could easily be a full-fledged member of the Investigation Team, since she spends time with all of them in the course of her Social Link. The only reason she's not is because she's helping from the back stage as a Velvet Room attendant [[spoiler:and is ''[[PiecesOfGod technically]]'' the villain]]. After the crisis passes, she becomes a full-blooded Persona-user in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'' and happily joins her friends in the game's epilogue.
** Yuuki Mishima in ''VideoGame/Persona5'' is a rather interesting subversion. Despite being the Phantom Thieves' chief KnowledgeBroker and public relations guy, the only two members he's really close to are Ryuji and the protagonist. [[spoiler:Through the course of his Confidant, it's revealed that he ''wants'' to play the trope straight, in the hopes that it'll make him "special" too.]]

* Gen-san from ''VisualNovel/MajiDeWatashiNiKoiShinasai'' almost reads like a parody of this and the IneffectualLoner SixthRanger tropes. He lives with the majority of the Kazama family (the protagonist's friend group) and has known and been close to them for longer than the two members who ''officially'' join it over the course of the prologue. He also helps them out whenever they're in a jam, shares tender and intense moments with them, and for all intents and purposes ''is'' a member of the group... but his standoffish {{Tsundere}} personality causes him to always justify himself by claiming to be JustPassingThrough (despite, again, ''[[ExaggeratedTrope being their roommate]]'') whenever he does. [[spoiler: He is officially recruited onto the team during the Agave route, and remains recognized as such in the sequel.]]

** Jellal (who is an {{Expy}} of Sieghart from ''Rave Master'') becomes this over time to the guild.

* This is what Hinata is to team seven in ''Fanfic/TeenageJinchurikiShinobi'', as per being on a different team than them, but [[spoiler: being Naruto's LoveInterest]] had quite a bit to do with it.

** Marie in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} [[UpdatedRerelease Golden]]'' and especially in its [[Anime/Persona4GoldenTheAnimation anime adaptation]] could easily be a full-fledged member of the Investigation Team. The only reason she's not is because she's helping from the back stage as a Velvet Room attendant [[spoiler:and is ''[[PiecesOfGod technically]]'' the villain]]. After the crisis passes, she becomes a full-blooded Persona-user in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'' and happily joins her friends in the game's epilogue.

* Invoked in ''VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories''. After clearing a BonusBoss fight with the {{Sentai}} parody [[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows Prism Rangers]], [[TheHero Adell]] will be granted the title of Prism Black. [[TheChick Rozalin]] complains that [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments she doesn't get to be Prism Pink]].

** Jimbei as well develops a close relationship with Luffy and is even offered a chance to join the crew. He declines due to other duties but hopes that Luffy will still keep his offer open.

* [[TheRival Shadow the Hedgehog]] becomes one of these to [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]] after his HeelFaceTurn. Although he doesn't hang out with Sonic's group like Tails, Amy, and Knuckles and [[ReformedButNotTamed keeps more than a bit of his rivalry with Sonic intact]]; he can usually be counted on to be "[[IWasJustPassingThrough Just Passing Through]]" whenever Sonic really needs him.
** As mentioned in the Comic Books entry, Knuckles also qualifies for this, as he spends most of his time doting over the Master Emerald instead of tangling with Eggman.

* While his exact location and involvement with the larger conflict has varied throughout the series' run, this was how [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Knuckles the Echidna]] started out in ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog''. While helping them out when they were in his area, joining up with them when they really needed him and even going on an extended quest to find a legendary sword connected to the royal family, Knuckles could never permanently join the Freedom Fighters because he had to take care of the Floating Island.