REVIEW: ‘A Sign of Affection’ Episode 4 — “What Kind Of Voice?”

Sometimes, the best type of romance is the kind that comes easy. There’s plenty to champion about slow burn, constant yearning, will they/won’t they relationships. And there’s certainly an addictive quality to other tropes, such as enemies to lovers, etc. But there’s comfort in seeing a well-developed dynamic unfold where each member falls head-over-heels for the other, even if they display those emotions differently. A Sign of Affection Episode 4 is a potent reminder of why we become so infatuated with these types of love stories.

Despite continued patient pacing, A Sign of Affection Episode 4 is endlessly engaging. There’s so much color and so many specific character-driven, emotional beats that fuel the storyline and infuse it with inner vibrancy. Yuki Itose (Sumire Morohoshi) continues to crush on Itsuomi Nagi (Yū Miyazaki) as “What Kind of Voice?” allows for greater insight into these characters, moving beyond just the love story. By giving greater depth to the characters, we’re drawn further into their world, even if there’s still an enigmatic quality to Itsuomi’s personality.

Following Emma’s (Nao Tōyama) surprise arrival in Episode 3, Itsuomi arrives on his Kyōya (Ryōta Ōsaka) doorstep. There’s a familiarity and coziness in the following scene, as they eat and watch television, as Itsuomi repeats English dialogue. It shows just enough of a difference in how he interacts with others who aren’t Yuki to strengthen the fact that his feelings for her aren’t platonic. It also reinforces his bluntness, a necessary character flaw considering how many perceive him as impervious to criticism.

Meanwhile, Yuki, too, is given greater depth in her hilariously contemptuous relationship with Oushi (Takeo Ōtsuka). He spends most scenes reprimanding her, but there’s evident care, even if he’s yet to graduate from the pulling pigtails style of sharing how he feels. Their scenes are brief, with Yuki often resorting to more childish behavior when around him.

The animation is superb, though, in the small moment they share on the train as he twirls her hair to bug her, and she slaps his hand away. More than others, Oushi’s character design leans heavily into greater fluctuating movement, boyish in his depiction.

Oushi is the cause of the only actual drama of the episode. Oushi doesn’t threaten Ituomi. Or at the very least, Itsuomi doesn’t show it if he does. But their standoff in the train station is hilarious, as he proudly shows off his and Yuki’s close relationship. Emma and Shin (Tasuku Hatanaka) are also given their own moment as Emma complains about Itsuomi not returning her feelings for him. It’s a smart move to develop these peripheral, supporting characters.

Even Rin (Kaede Hondo) finally gets another moment to shine when Itsuomi pushes her into being more assertive with her crush on Kyōya. While it’s only been four episodes, the show has fully cemented who these characters are and their stations in life—emotionally and otherwise. It immediately makes for an engaging watch as we invest in their love lives and personal growth. The best anime are the ones with the strongest ensemble.

A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren) captures the intimacy of small gestures and the beauty in subtlety. As Yuki and Itsuomi continue to grow closer, the writing and animators take pains in demonstrating their growth and the orbital pull they feel towards one another with grace. It’s found in slight shifts and movements, such as Itsuomi’s small smile when he finds Yuki cute.

We also see it in the differences in how people sign, from the calm, composed nature of Yuki’s movements as opposed to Oushi’s aggressiveness and Itsuomi’s confidence while learning the fundamentals. There’s such a degree of evident care put into the smallest moments. This encapsulates everything from honing in on the specifics of brands of lotion Yuki likes to Kyōya telling Yuki that Itsuomi’s tone of voice when addressing her is fond. These details matter.

These details make A Sign of Affection Episode 4 the series’s liveliest to date. The normalcy of these characters’ lives grounds the story further as they engage in everyday errands together. So much of the story thus far has revolved around how we communicate with others and perceive the world. The perceptive nature of Kyōya, the kindness of Yuki and Rin, Itsuomi’s bluntness, these traits are just as vividly drawn in these sequences of shopping for groceries as they would be in declarative instances. The subtlety of the expressions also transfers to subtlety in the writing.

Ending on a note that promises greater relationship development between Yuki and Itsuomi, A Sign of Affection Episode 4 is a heartwarming treat. Anchored with compassion and bolstered by the pastel, watercolor effect of its animation, the series remains a draw. The series envelops us in the warmth of its characters and their affection for one another.

A Sign of Affection Episode 4 is available now on Crunchyroll.