REVIEW: ‘A Sign of Affection’ Episode 5 — “The Answer”

A single establishing shot in A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren) Episode 5 defines the current dynamic between protagonists Yuki Itose (Sumire Morohoshi) and Itsuomi Nagi (Yū Miyazaki). The two sit together at his apartment for their would-be dinner date that turns into a frozen pizza at home. Yuki takes up as little space as possible while Itsuomi lounges, confident and in his element. The series, adapted from the manga by suu Morishita, never allows Yuki to come across as meek, but she’s still out of her comfort zone. This opening sequence gives way to some of the episode’s greatest highlights as Yuki grows increasingly comfortable in Itsuomi’s presence.

There are really only two central locations in Episode 5, aside from brief check-ins with supporting characters. Most of it takes place in Itsuomi’s apartment as he and Yuki learn more about one another. Yuki learns that Itsuomi lives alone, his parents are in Germany, and he has a much younger sister. The sign language guide she gave to him in Episode 2 is annotated and sticky note-ridden. This indicates his commitment to communicating with her. He’s 22 but is still only in his third year of college due to a working holiday taken abroad.

Beyond what we learn directly from him, we also glean internal insights not shared with Yuki. His infatuation with Yuki shines through as he works to share pieces of himself. From the eagerness to show her artifacts from his travels to chibi-style thought bubbles where we see how cute he finds her, it’s the most information divulged about Itsuomi since the start of the series. Enigmatic works for a moment, but there needs to be greater depth to a character to make us honestly care about the success of their coupling.

And we care just about as much as he does at this rate. Due to a misunderstanding, Yuki leaves before allowing Itsuomi to walk her home. A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren) continues to work in microexpressions. The slight widening of Itsuomi’s eyes when he realizes that Yuki’s gotten the wrong impression about him and Emma (Nao Tōyama) is subtle but effective.

It’s easy to simply hone in on the romance element of the series and the central couple. However, A Sign of Affection Episode 5, “The Answer,” is a superb demonstration of craft beyond the surface level. An entire sequence plays out through a scribbled conversation on the top of a pizza box, then the lines of a notebook, and it never dulls. Instead, there’s energized directness to the moment and character infused into the written words. The handwriting styles are distinct, and they write outside the notebook’s margins. Yuki and Itsuomi circle and underline their words to emphasize certain points.

Romance is imbued into the visuals and art style beyond the words being said and emotions conveyed. Early in “The Answer,” Itsuomi grabs Yuki’s wrists to sign to her. The moment is intimate, shrouded in warmth and coming alive at the point of contact. We watch color bloom from where his hands touch her wrists. Simultaneously, the rest of Yuki and her world becomes black and white, sketches and outlines. The only remaining vibrancy is under that touch, a visual indicator that it’s the only thing she can currently focus on.

Despite the calmness that blankets the series, A Sign of Affection is never dull or slow. Instead, the story enraptures in the small, yet confident steps these two are making towards one another. Yuki’s inner dialogue is endlessly yearning and lyrical. She describes wanting to be like snow to Itsuomi: soft, delicate, and able to stick to him upon landing. She sees Itsuomi as her sky, while Itsuomoi tells Yuki that he studies sign language for the sole purpose of getting to speak with her. They’re declarations of love even without the word itself being used.

His admission hits an even bigger chord after knowing that Yuki’s family doesn’t know sign language. While she shares that they make it work, communicating via text, written notes, gestures, and mouthing, an air of loneliness pulses through the moment. In comparison, the animation becomes more vibrant upon Itsuomi’s answer. Yuki wants anything and everything Itsuomi offers, and Itsuomi intends to give it to her. He wants to know her and her world and is able and willing to put in the work to understand it in its entirety.

A Sign of Affection Episode 5 is another lovely installment that seeks to understand the protagonists better. Wearing its heart on its sleeve, the series continues to find ways to charm and thrill with this developing romance. Patient in the storytelling without ever underplaying the electricity that stems between Yuki and Itsuomi, “The Answer” beautifully sells the intricacy of wanting to be seen for who you are in the eyes of those you love.

A Sign of Affection Episode 5 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.