A Sign of Affection (ゆびさきと恋々)

Is love like the snow?

Does it arrive silently,

without fireworks or fanfare?

Will it fall from the cloudy skies

and color the world in its hue?

YUKI'S WORLD

It's crazy, right?

Yeah, but I get it.

LOCAL - TO SHIN-MATSUBA NEXT STOP - HASHIMOTO

We will be making a brief stop at Hashimoto.

Exit through the doors on the right.

Again, the next stop will be Hashimoto.

This is my world.

I'm so glad I was able to buy

such a cute dress for a great price!

Oh, cool. Rin's posted on her Insta.

I have so many great things in life.

Good friends at a great university,

social media,

I take each day as it comes,

and always try to make the best of it.

A foreigner?

What? Why me?

Oh, is he asking for directions?

Hmm.

Do you need some help?

Huh?

That was close. Saved by the friend.

Wait, don't I know him from somewhere?

Oh, right!

He's in the same club as Rin!

They seem to be hitting it off.

I hope he figured it out.

Bye-bye!

He really bailed me out there.

He doesn't know sign language.

Okay.

Thank you so--

Do you know how to read lips?

Just wondering.

Too close!

A little.

That guy from before?

The foreigner? He spoke Japanese.

This is so weird.

He's waving at me

like I'm some exotic zoo animal.

I never met anyone like you before.

See? I knew it!

NOTES WE GO TO THE SAME COLLEGE.

MY FRIEND RIN-CHAN IS IN THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE CLUB WITH YOU.

Hmm.

That's cool.

I'm getting off at the next stop.

I'm leaving. How about you?

You staying?

I get it now.

He's trying to make it easier

for me to read his lips.

Okay.

Take care.

"See you."

It was the first time we met,

but my condition didn't faze him.

He even said, "see you."

In the world I was born into,

"sounds" don't sound like anything at all.

I didn't realize until later

that the vibrations I felt on the train,

were coming from deep within my heart.

Have a nice day. Be safe out there.

Man, it's so hard to choose.

Someone's sure in a rush. Wonder why?

Huh?

I couldn't believe it.

Huh?

Hey Yuki! Good morning.

That was some seriously

difficult material we covered.

Were you able to keep up?

Huh?

You wanna ask something?

Was it this guy?

I'll take that as a yes.

ITSUOMI-SAN HELPED YOU OUT, DID HE?

I THINK HE JUST GOT BACK FROM CANADA.

HE GOES BACKPACKING OVERSEAS QUITE OFTEN.

That explains his massive bag.

And his name is Itsuomi.

You look like you're in love right now!

Are you?

In love?

That's a little extreme, isn't it?

Or maybe you're just crushing!

Crushing?

Yeah, that's it.

Oh.

So, this is a crush.

I have one of those, too.

Someone I'm crushing on.

It's actually Itsuomi's boss.

Oh, and they're cousins!

They work at a bar and grill together.

I have an idea.

We should eat there. What do you think?

I don't know about that.

But...

I do want to see him again.

Wait. Maybe it's not a good idea.

I can't. I get so nervous talking to him as it is.

I've never even managed to ask him for his number!

I've never seen Rin act like this before.

If you're willing to go there with me.

I feel like maybe I can give it a shot.

Yuki!

Jeez, you've got quite a grip on you!

But thanks so much! You're the best!

Oh, yeah?

Well, all right! Then I've got your back!

We're officially clearing this quest

to cap off your first year!

Let's go and get those boys' deets!

QUEST

- - Oh?

I didn't realize

that you were going out tonight.

Be careful. It's already dark.

Well, we're here.

Hey, I look okay?

Not weird or anything?

Awesome. You look great too, Yuki!

I KNOW, I KNOW! ALSO, YOU'RE THE CUTE ONE, RIN-CHAN!

Is love like the snow?

Does it arrive silently,

without fireworks or fanfare?

Will it fall from the cloudy skies,

and color the world in its hue?

Hurry up, Bill!

-We're in deep shit over here! -What're you talking about?

Ain't nothing we haven't seen before!

Let's go blast those bastards!

I'd better not catch you running around here...

There's something different about him tonight.

He's more aloof, but still cute.

Hey, Itsuomi.

I wanted to thank you for helping out Yuki here

on the train the other day.

Sure.