Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
    Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2 But Why Tho 10

    Spider-Man Is Coming To Magic And It’s Just Like The Comics

    08/29/2025
    Star Wars Visions Volume 3 Black

    ‘Black’ Sets The Tone For A Bold New Mixtape In ‘Star Wars Visions: Volume 3’

    08/28/2025
    Olivia Colman in The Roses

    ‘The Roses’ Is A Reimagining, Not A Remake, And That’s Why It Works So Well

    08/27/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Anime » REVIEW: ‘A Sign of Affection’ Episode 2 — “To Affection”

REVIEW: ‘A Sign of Affection’ Episode 2 — “To Affection”

Allyson JohnsonBy Allyson Johnson01/14/20244 Mins Read
A Sign of Affection Episode 2
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

A Sign of Affection Episode 2, “To Affection,” continues to prove that this shoujo anime is one of the season’s delights. Based on the manga by suu Morishita and adapted by Ajia-do Animation Works, the artistry remains a significant highlight. Behaving as a bit of setup for the rest of the story with the patient, drawn-out pacing, Episode 2 doubles down on Yuki Itose’s (Sumire Morohoshi) crush on Itsuomi Nagi (Yū Miyazaki) as she learns more about him.

It’s funny because, technically, very little happens in A Sign of Affection Episode 2. But still, the progress is immense by the end, with Yuki realizing the actual depth of her feelings. She’s only known Itsuomi for a while, and they’ve yet to engage beyond niceties truly. Regardless, Itsuomi sees her, and Yuki is impressed by his fearless approach to life. “To Affection” points Yuki towards her future as she grapples with her emotions over whether what she’s feeling is a crush or love. In doing so, it highlights who she is as a character. Despite its slow pace, we learn why Yuki would be drawn to someone like Itsuomi beyond his evident popularity and looks.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Yuki is fond of her upbringing. She describes attending a school for the deaf with only four students as safe and comfortable. Her happiness shines through in the animation as clips of her adolescence play in golden lighting. Despite this, she still seeks more in the present — longs for more. It’s why she chose to go to university despite some, like her childhood friend Oushi, not understanding.

Oushi is another critical component of the episode and a tether to Yuki’s past. Yuki notes that Oushi, who isn’t deaf, uses sign language as a means to tease her. But others who look on see the significance of him learning it to communicate with her. The series has painstakingly animated sign language thus far, and Episode 2 pushes it more. It does so by addressing how viewers see it being used versus how Yuki sees it. Yuki picks up on Oushi’s gestures and how he signs versus what he’s saying. She hones in on the movement. How Oushi holds his fingers is just as expressive as the words he’s signing. Oushi might think he’s just trying to tell Yuki to be careful regarding Itsuomi, but Yuki can pick up on more restrained emotion through how his hands move.

A Sign of Affection Episode 2

It’s a lovely detail that works compared to how Itsuomi continues to try to be on Yuki’s playing field. While Yuki is who we spend time with, it’s clear that Itsuomi feels the same way. From learning small bits of sign language on his own to communicate with her to texting her photos of his travels and bringing her home a souvenir, he’s just as engaged. Just as the animation depicts sign language, it demonstrates how Itsuomi accentuates his words to make it easier for Yuki to read his lips.

Itsuomi remains enigmatic to both Yuki and us as viewers. He spends most of Episode 2 traveling again, this time to Laos. While it’s tough to decipher his inner thoughts as he’s shared very few of them. Still, his aloof personality shines through in his physicality. From constantly hovering over Yuki’s shoulder to patting her on the head, he’s tactile. The chibi-style animation works wonders in these moments, ironically making him more human. Most of the first two episodes depict him as this cooler, untouchable character. His open-faced curiosity and disregard for personal space make him more enjoyable. It also adds to the humor of the series, which needs these moments of silly levity. It’s earnest without taking itself too seriously.

A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renre) captures the romance through colors. It’s a story told through small gestures and moments. In turn, the animation captures the overflowing feelings of love as Yuki’s world blooms with Itsuomi’s gaze directed at her. The watercolor effect of colors spilling out around her, and she becomes the central focus on the screen, is beautiful. Despite the stillness, when the series wants to lean into bolder imagery, they do so with finesse. There’s undeniable grace in how this world comes to life.

Still in its setup stages, A Sign of Affection Episode 2 manages to stun regardless. The story has an inherent sweetness, and Yuki is increasingly lovable. As the romance between Yuki and Itsuomi continues to blossom, the series delivers a confident, rich story about how love expands our personal worlds.

A Sign of Affection Episode 2 is available now on Crunchyroll.

A Sign of Affection Episode 2
  • 8/10
    Rating - 8/10
8/10

TL;DR

Still in its set-up stages, A Sign of Affection Episode 2 manages to stun regardless. The story has an inherent sweetness, and Yuki is increasingly lovable. As the romance between Yuki and Itsuomi continues to blossom, the series delivers a confident, rich story about how love expands our personal worlds.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘True Detective: Night Country’ Episode 1 — “Part 1”
Next Article World of Warcraft Patch 10.2.5 Follower Dungeons Fix New Player On-boarding
Allyson Johnson

Allyson Johnson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.

Related Posts

Marin in My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 9
8.5

REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 9 — “Because I Don’t Intend to Sleep Tonight”

08/30/2025
Shiki in Tougen Anki Episode 8
5.0

REVIEW: ‘Tougen Anki’ Episode 8 — “The Unreliable Hero”

08/30/2025
DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 9
8.0

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 9 – “I Want to Rebuild the House”

08/28/2025
Sakamoto Days Episode 18
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Sakamoto Days’ Episode 18 – “Kanaguri”

08/27/2025
Captivated By You Episode 1
6.0

REVIEW: ‘Captivated By You’ Episode 1 — “Someone Adorable”

08/25/2025
Marin in My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 8
7.0

REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 8 — “The Only Way I Can Think to Express That Gratitude Is With Money”

08/23/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Cosmic Spider-Man card details Features

[EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

By Kate Sánchez09/02/2025Updated:09/02/2025

An exclusive look at a new 5-Color Spider entering Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, and Cosmic Spider-Man is going to be a tough one to take on.

Hololive EN at Radio City Music Hall Events

Hololive EN At Radio City Music Hall Was A Pure Expression Of Fandom

By Adrian Ruiz08/31/2025Updated:09/03/2025

Hololive EN turned Radio City in New York City into the pure expression of fandom: chants, penlights, and community in perfect sync.

Foundation Season 3 Episode 8 promotional still from APple TV+
9.0
TV

RECAP: ‘The Foundation’ Season 3 Episode 8 — “Skin In The Game”

By Will Borger08/29/2025Updated:08/29/2025

Still barreling toward a knock-down, drag-out fight between Gaal and the Mule in Foundation Season 3 Episode 8 ups the stakes.

Karl Anthony Towns in NBA 2k26 But Why Tho
8.5
PS5

REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K26’ Brings Basketball To Life

By Kyle Foley09/03/2025

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh in the latest yearly release.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here