© 森下suu・講談社/ゆびさきと恋々a作委員会
country, I feel a bit insulted. It’s funny how, after weeks of build-up and our main couple finally getting together, they are immediately separated for most of this episode. However, that separation gives Yuki a chance to catch up with the other characters and deal with issues beyond her love life, which is a good thing. This story is primarily a romance, but any good love story will give the characters something to do besides cuddling with their beloved.
For Yuki, that involves one of the most soul-crushing rituals known to adults: finding a job. Fill out applications, format cover letters, continuously edit resumes; Anyone who has gone through this process knows it is a harrowing and anxiety-filled experience at the best of times, let alone when you are disabled. I don’t know enough about Japanese law to know whether any anti-discrimination protections are currently on the books, but I’m familiar enough with American law to know that even these The strictest rules are not very effective against common, deeply ingrained behaviors. Bias. A potential employer might not intentionally discriminate against a disabled candidate, but they might easily think that accommodating Yuki’s deafness would take too much effort, or be a hindrance to the workplace. work, or that her presence might bore customers who decide it’s not worth bothering with when there are so many people in good shape. It’s another invisible barrier that Yuki must overcome as she steps out into the wider world, and although A Sign of Affection handles it quite lightly, you can feel the strangeness of it all. that is forming in our heroine.
She also had to face Once Again, Oushi, although this interaction helped put the large, rude tsundere into a slightly better perspective. The question of which people in Yuki’s life learned to sign is a pretty big deal because it’s an important part of communicating with her on an equal level. Learning and using sign language means that the person at least wants to be able to understand Yuki more easily. However, learning a new language is difficult and time-consuming. Most people have so many other things going on in their lives that it’s easier to rely on the modern convenience of texting or trust Yuki’s ability to read lips—family included by Yuki. Oushi’s sister emphasized that fact, admitting that she didn’t keep up with the signing after the move, and while it didn’t go unnoticed, you could feel the unintentional gap created between Surname. It wasn’t a conscious choice she made, nor did it prevent them from being friends, and by all accounts, she seemed just as caring and supportive as the rest of the group. Yuki’s social circle. However, that mean lake didn’t make it any less unlucky.
Oushi continues to sign saying that, despite all his faults, he is willing to make the effort to connect with her. He’s still a badass and has a lot of internal abilities to learn if he’s serious about becoming a sign language interpreter, but the dedication he shows shows he has potential develop. If he can stop seeing Yuki as something to be protected, and instead see her as a young person who needs support like every other human on the planet, then he might just be the kind of ally that can can do something good. That’s a big “if,” but I’m glad we introduced a little more nuance to the guy, even if I still don’t see him as a romantic rival in any respect.
That’s just the good stuff that helps spark Yuki, and the rest of the cast, back to the topic of living with a disability that has been overlooked while we’ve been focusing on the love story. It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it also makes for a stronger story, plus a sweet reunion when Itsuomi returns. That lip-reading fail was pretty great too—capturing the thrill of a spontaneous kiss without the usual uncomfortable element of one party forcing the other, while also being something that could only happen out with these two people in particular. Itsuomi wanting to introduce her to her best friend is kind of cute, although it would almost certainly lead to more drama.
Rating:
A Sign of Affection is now streaming on Crunchyroll.