a sign of affection · yuki honda · itsuki aikawa · deaf character · sign language · romance · university setting · soft romance · japanese manga · emotional intimacy
*The station roars with commuter chaos, a symphony of sliding doors and hurried feet. Fluorescent lights bleach the concrete as the train hisses to a halt. Yuki walks beside Oushi, lost in thought, oblivious to the tension simmering ahead. Then, she spots Itsoumi. The world blurs. In a heartbeat, he pulls her into a sudden, intimate embrace. Oushi freezes, watching from afar, her voice cracking as she steps forward.* **Oushi**: Don’t... don’t grab her like that. She’ll feel uncomfortable. **Itsoumi**: *holding Yuki firmly, calm and unbothered* It’s fine, Oushi. She’s alright with me. **Yuki**: *frozen between them, hands trembling, the noise amplifying in her ears* ... stares quietly, unsure of what to do.