A Sign of Affection, Vol. 2

ゆびさきと恋々 [Yubisaki to Renren] #2

by Suu Morishita

Why must the time we spend together always be so short? Yuki's a hearing-impaired college student whose path crosses with Itsuomi, an upperclassman from her school. Against all expectations, Itsuomi doesn't bat an eye at her condition, treating her more normally than she's ever felt in her life, and she begins to fall in love with him. Resolving to be strong and face that love head-on, Yuki hopes to get to know him better... but that's easier said than done! Check out volume 2 of "A Sign of Affection," the manga that's taken the online and TV world by storm!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Contemporary, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Young Adult, Comics

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2020

About the author

MORISHITA Suu
Name (in native language): 森下ｓｕｕ

Blood type: A
Zodiac: Taurus

Mangaka duo: Story: Makiro (マキロ）, Illustration: Nachiyan (なちやん）

Favourite food: chicken nanban

Assistant: Aizawa Yuki-mei

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

That last page! *internal screaming*

RTC

[Dilushani Jayalath · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story continues to be sweet and innocent at the same time. In a way there isn’t anything unique about the plot but the simpleness makes it a sweet read. It gives a nice perspective to people with hearing disabilities although it doesn’t delve too deep into it.
It remains a sweet story to pass time on.

[HaileysmovingLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart can’t handle how cute this is!!! Soooo good. 🥰😭

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is CUTE! It’s been a while since I’ve read the first volume, but I was able to remember enough to continue on with the series. Not only am I excited to see their relationship develop more, but I’m super interested in seeing how well he continues to learn sign language.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY HEART!!! MY HEART!!! MY HEART!!!!

The second volume was even better than the first!!! SOOOOOOO good!! I don't even know what to say because I absolutely loved it so much! My heart feels so giddy and happy from reading this!

While the romance is very much a slow burn, the romance is really starting to unfold and I am loving it so very much! Yuki is such a brave and courageous woman and was really moved at how she is able to share her feelings almost so openly.

Itsuomi treats Yuki SO well! I LOVE how he is really getting to know her and I'm hoping SOOOO much that he DOES take Yuki on one his adventures. I think Yuki is perfect a fit concerning Itsuomi's dream and that they would be so happy together.

But since we are not that far ahead, I am just going to seriously keep loving this manga SO much! I HAD to read it the same day it arrived because it is a beautiful love story! HIGHLY recommend!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I don't have great feelings about the romance plot - he seems just a little too much like he's looking for his fictional dream girl and Yuki is the closest thing he's found. I'm also aghast that none of Yuki's family learned sign language, because, well, that just seems horrible. But as always, suu Morishita is a strong enough creative team that I'm going to keep reading, even against what might turn out to be my better judgement.

[ʚ Aileen ɞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody needs a sweet and kindhearted Yuki in their lives 🧡

[Mrukbooki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Potrzebuje kolejnych tomów na teraz.

[rae ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk but i'm still the bestfriend team

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

when itsuomi abruptly changed the subject from oushi HE'S A LIL JELLY HEHE

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 4/20/24: My original review still stands 😂

Original read 5/19/22: I cannot describe how absolutely adorable this story is.

All I want with romance is feels. I just want to feel those butterflies and fall in love! And oh my goodness, I found it here.

I am obsessed. Obsessed. I love this book so, so much. It's just so sweet, it really nails those beginning feelings of nervousness and excitement of falling in love.

Steam: a kiss on the hand. A KISS ON THE HAND THAT ALMOST MADE ME SWOON. Sigh. I'm in love.

[Sav R. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is STRESSING ME OUT

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Itsuomi is awfully handsy for somebody who hasn't expressed any desire to date Yuki. I like the sense of intimacy in these scenes, while also thinking that that level of it isn't quite appropriate for this stage of their relationship.

The part where Itsuomi shows Yuki the mementos from his trip was cute. That scene reminded me of the time my younger sibling, about three or four years old at the time, brought all his precious things, one by one, to show off to my college friend who was visiting. It had a sweet sense of childlike earnestness.

Yuki's parents never learned sign language? That's very sad to me. Surely they knew she was deaf before anyone else did, and had plenty of time to learn, so they could better communicate and bond with their own child.

[Anja Karenjina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll unalive myself

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is cute, but I personally hate Itsuomi's character. He reminds me of an annoying person I gladly removed from my radar.

[Olha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Аж захотілось знову подивитись якесь аніме)) оці ніжні погляди, зітхання - так мииило 🥰

[Ris Sasaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little bit better than the second one but I still want to see more emotions coming from the main guy.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things keep meandering gently toward romance. Protagonist Yuki is just so adorable, but I worry that her weirdly aloof crush sees her more as a puppy dog or child than an equal.

[Sara ➽ Ink Is My Sword · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have entered my manga era :0

[Lucy Tonks (the invisible life of a reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS TOO CUTE

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings:FMC hasn’t been able to hear since she was born

I knew what was gonna happen since I’ve watched the anime but I STILL CAN’T GET OVER THE CUTENESS BRO. The manga still had my heart fluttering. There were small things left outta the anime so it was nice to see some more cuteness. Anway, Imma copy and paste the stuff I said in my other review so I can get to spoilers: Our FMC is deaf, I’m not sure if it is a trigger but I have added it just in case. The authors seem to have put a lot of research and the sign language is in Japanese. They have a whole process of how they figure out the sign language aspect of the manga which I found fascinating. The anime did a good job animating the sign language. Especially the different tones of sign language, some being soft and graceful while others are harsh and straightforward. I LOVE our FMC Yuki, she knows what she wants and goes for it. And Itsuomi our MMC has so much rizz, the guy is so handsome and dreamy. Some people have mixed thoughts on his actions but I personally think this guy is a walking green flag. They both communicate so there is drama but not as much as other mangas, this is more cute. Please do yourself a favour and watch the anime. Then come back and read the manga so we can fangirl together.


Yuki runs into Itsuomi in the subway and after a helpful interaction, she can’t get him off her mind. When she realizes the guy is someone in her friend’s class, she will get to know him.

Now for spoilers


We start right where we left off where Itsuomi is doing his laundry with Yuki there, I’m gonna call Itsuomi “Itsu.” Once he is done he asks if Yuki has a curfew and says he will walk her home. On their way home, it snows and Itsu says he likes the snow. Yuki shows him the sign for that and he says he likes a lot of things, asking how to say the word “like.” Yuki asks if he plans to say it to someone and he says he just wants to know how to say “like” in general, like how he likes the snow. Yuki’s name means the snow so she misunderstood for a sec but realized right away. Yuki thinks about Emma clinging to Itsu at the bar and asks if he is seeing anyone. Itsu says he isn’t but asks if Yuki is seeing Oushi, he assumed they were together since he saw them talking. Yuki says that he is a childhood friend who learned sign language from his older sister. His older sister used to talk to Yuki using sign language. She says that he uses sign language to make fun of her but they aren’t together. Itsu puts Yuki on the pedestrian side which I find so gentlemanly and they walk home. Yuki asks if Itsu is free to hang out sometime and Itsu says he is free from work on Thursday. I loved how Yuki did not hesitate to ask him these things even though she was terrified he would say no. And it’s cute how physically affectionate Itsu is with Yuki. When she isn’t looking his way, he would tilt her chin up and I swoon. Once she gets home, Rin says that she is going to Costco with Kyo. She says she is too shy to be in the car alone with him so she asks if Yuki can come with Itsu.


Itsu comes home to Emma at his door, she asks if she can stay over. Itsu is annoyed and says that the last time she came over, it was with Shin. He lets Emma in and while she gets drinks, he tells her where things are and heads out. He says that he doesn’t want her to keep doing stuff like this. Even when Emma touched him, he pushed her off. I love that he was clear that he wasn’t interested in her that way. He goes over to Kyo’s place and while he is there, he gets some beers outta his fridge. He asks to watch the movie in another language and says that he needs to keep practising or he will forget. Kyo is worried for Yuki since she seems interested in Itsu. He doesn’t want Itsu to break her heart and has a feeling the reason Itsu was there was cuz of Emma. He asks Itsu why he wants to learn sign language since he will only be able to speak to Yuki and he doesn’t answer the question. Itsu gets a message from Yuki asking if he wants to join Rin and Kyo on a trip to Costco so Itsu asks Kyo about Rin. Kyo says nothing is going on and Itsu says he will join Yuki. On Yuki’s way to Rin and Kyo, she runs into Oushi. I could never ship them since Oushi is always rude to Yuki and even Yuki is annoyed by him. She thinks that Oushi acts like a child compared to Itsu. Oushi asks where Yuki is going and asks what time she came home the other night. Yuki is annoyed and says she is going to the library. When she sits down, Oushi touches her hair and she whacks his hand away. What I loved is that this showed she doesn’t let anyone touch her. Her letting Itsu touch her is because she likes him and likes that he does it. Oushi leans his head on Yuki’s shoulder and Yuki pushes him off, saying he is heavy. When Yuki gets to her stop, she leaves and Oushi says that it isn’t the stop to the library. He follows her out and when Yuki is going to run into someone, Itsu grabs her with his rizz.


Itsu notices that Oushi is following Yuki and he blocks Yuki’s view with his hand. This is another thing some people were saying was disrespectful. He doesn’t let Yuki see what Oushi is saying while Oushi is asking if she is going out with him. Itsu asks what he wants and holds onto Yuki. I didn’t mind this since Oushi was annoying Yuki and Itsu can tell she was avoiding him and just grabbed her. And I liked that he might have been jealous, that the feelings were going both ways. Especially since he asked about Oushi the other night. When Oushi is walking away, he calls Yuki a moron and she is confused. She asks if anything is wrong to Itsu and he says nothing is wrong. Rin is making small talk with Kyo in his car but it is awkward. Kyo asks if Yuki likes Itsu and is worried since Itsu has rejected girls often at his bar. He knows a lot of girls fall for Itsu but he says that Itsu has a dream to teach kids in the mountains when he is older. Itsu has been backpacking his whole life and he wants to teach kids about the world. We didn’t really see him say this in the anime so I found that interesting. I liked that Kyo was concerned but then they see Itsu walking with Yuki while holding her hand. Rin asks why he is holding her hand and he says he doesn’t want Yuki getting hit by a car. He holds Yuki’s hand while she gets into the car and Rin and Kyo are shook that Yuki and Itsu are close. While they are sitting in the back, Yuki teaches Itsu more sign language and they are in their own little world, it is adorable. While they are shopping, Itsu calls Yuki in a gentle voice and Kyo and Rin are shook. Seeing their reactions was hilarious but it also shows that Itsu doesn’t act like this with everyone. When Itsu isn’t looking, Kyo tells Yuki that Itsu calls her name in a gentle way. Yuki wonders what Itsu’s voice normally sounds like and how he speaks to her. I liked that for the trip, Itsu was only focused on Yuki. She shows him a cake and he says she looks small compared to it. He says that he wants to put her in his suitcase and travel and Yuki says she would be extra baggage. Itsu says she will never be baggage to him, SWOON.


Itsu tells Rin that he knows why she keeps coming to the bar and tells her to ask Kyo to drive her somewhere. He pushes Rin to Kyo and once that is settled, Itsu says that he will walk with Yuki. While walking, Yuki asks if he wants to go out to eat. Itsu says he is going home and Yuki thinks he turned her down. But he says they can eat at his place and get pizza. Once they go, he is sitting on the couch while Yuki is on the ground. He asks if she had fun and she says yes and makes the fun sign. Itsu takes her hands and does the sign with her and Yuki is flustered. He asks if it bothers her that people think she can hear with her hearing aids. He asks if she ever speaks and she says only with her family but very little. Her family doesn’t know sign language so she either texts them, reads their lips, or writes what she wants to say. Itsu sits with her on the ground and puts his arm around her and she snuggles into his arm. He says that she is more comfortable with him and texts his friends who she notices are speaking another language. He says he is 22 which means he is 3 years older than Yuki. He was born in Germany where his family is and has a younger sister. Itsu gets her pizza to eat and when they’re done, he starts showing her different money currencies which fascinates Yuki. He randomly pulls on a mask that freaks Yuki out but she laughs out loud for real. She never uses her voice and she feels flustered but Itsu looks at her in awe, it was such a soft cute moment. But then he gets a call from Kyo and Kyo tells Itsu not to do anything stupid with Yuki. Itsu brushes him off and hangs up. He tickles Yuki’s belly and she is confused as to why he is touching her and he just wants to hear her laugh again. He asks how much Yuki is okay with when it comes to him, how far his boundaries go. Yuki makes a circle sign with her hands and uses her finger to spell out a word. They are interrupted again since Emma knocks on Itsu’s door. Yuki starts packing up thinking she overstayed so Itsu says he will walk her home, he was confused as to why she packed up so fast.


But while Yuki waits for the elevator, Emma is shocked to see a girl with Itsu. She did see a sign language book on Itsu’s table when she was last at his place. Itsu asks for his keys and Emma loudly thanks him for letting her stay over. Since Yuki’s back was turned, she didn’t hear Emma but Itsu was annoyed she did that. While Emma handed his keys back, Yuki saw and was upset. She thought Emma and Itsu might be together even though Itsu says he wasn’t seeing anyone. Yuki leaves and Itsu notices and when he goes down with Emma, he says bye to Emma and runs away. Emma goes to meet Shin to drink and she is upset Itsu was with someone else. I liked that Rin and Kyo confirmed that they never saw Itsu close to any girl before. He is always in Yuki’s space but he never does that with anyone else. Rin and Kyo go out to eat and things aren’t awkward. When Yuki goes to Rin’s place, she tells Rin what happened. Rin tells Yuki that she has never seen Itsu act so sweet with anyone but her. She is in the International club with Itsu so she sees him interacting with people. And Kyo sees him at work and he always turns people down. Right then, Itsu shows up at Rin’s place and Rin says she needs to go to the store, lmao smooth. Itsu asks why Yuki left without him and then asks if she can continue what she was saying. Yuki asks him why he wants to learn sign language. Itsu says it’s because he wants to talk to her. Yuki then spells out the word “everything,” saying when it comes to Itsu, he can do anything with her and she is okay with it. Itsu kisses her hand and the volume ends. The way my heart fluttered while watching the anime and reading the manga is no joke. Itsu is so fucking sweet, he is always attentive to Yuki. And I find Yuki so admirable and brave. She is scared but she puts her feelings out for Itsu. He is so sweet and tender with her, I love how physically affectionate he is. And I love that Yuki loves it too, they are both good communicators and everything was resolved so fast, it is refreshing. ONTO THE NEXT ONE!


Stay safe folks!

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

So stinking sweet and cute!

Costco trip, (mild) other woman drama + peacocking moment, tender moments, pizza and salad, Rin being the best wingwoman, and a kiss on the hand 😭

I think the way sign language is incorporated is very fluid and easy to follow along! I also adore the art style and the blank/shocked expressions haha.

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that Yuki and Itsuomi managed to make some progress in their communication but, I’m still not too sure how to feel about the possibility of a relationship between them. This manga series so far has been an odd time for me because usually I adore stories like this but there’s so much making me cautious; like Itsuomi’s dream occupation and Yuki falling for Itsuomi so quickly despite not knowing much about him. I’m worried for Yuki especially with this potential love rival: Emma.
Also, I’m disappointed to learn that none of Yuki’s family learned sign language for her; not even a few words or phrases.

[**Sognatrice di libri** · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anche questo secondo volume l’ho trovato molto dolce e tenero non vedo l’ora di leggere il prossimo.

[Beary Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great sequel. Loved seeing more of the two connect deeper. Can't wait to read more.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cute!

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art style in this manga, but what I don't like is the insta-love on Yuki's part lol. I also feel like her interest in him makes no sense since she doesn't really know him and I still don't trust his interest in her but I'm invested enough that I'm going to keep reading and see what happens in volume 3.

[Annadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP, SPAZING OUT, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ITSUOMI TAKE MY HAND IN MARRIAGE 🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭😭💍💍💍💍💍❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🌹🌹🌹🌹

[Nikoletta (nikisjournal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czy tylko dla mnie ta manga jest tak hot hot hot? ❤️‍🔥 aż mi się gorąco robi, gdy czytam. Nie spodziewałam się tego kompletnie. Itsumi jest kraszem totalnym.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars for the story and I’d go as far as to say 4.5 for the art. Beyond any story considerations, this manga is absolutely gorgeous to look at - there’s nothing particularly flashy or complicated, but the art style shifts around so flawlessly to suit the story’s needs and tone that it’s noticeable because of how good it is rather than a distraction.

So why five stars? Honestly, I just genuinely enjoyed the hell out of this. This book has such a unique premise with Yuri being deaf, though she is not her condition, and there’s so much consideration for that portrayal that it’s fascinating, from the way the text indicates when she’s mishearing words to her insecurities over her voice.

And the college setting is one I am coming to love in manga - no reliance on the traditional high school setting means unique settings and experiences. A Costco visit occurs! Where else are you going to see that in a romance book?

Itsuomi still isn’t super exciting on his own, but his consideration of Yuki and their chemistry is top notch. They are a very believable couple and watching them grow close is a great way to spend your reading time. And, yes, his “dream” for his future is incredibly ridiculous but it’s exactly the kind of nonsense somebody his age would think of (your interpretation of that may vary depending on your age/cynicism).

Emma’s a particular potential problem, but she’s certainly a type that exists and she knows what she wants at least. We’ll see if she develops into something more scheming in the future. I had to laugh at the train incident with the childhood friend though - I have never seen one shut down that effectively before.

One of my favorite reads of late and a series where I’m excited to see a new volume pop up. If you like your romances set to charming and your art to pop, this book’s an easy recommend.