# Week 9 ゆびさきと恋々・A Sign of Affection 💕 (Absolute Beginner Book Club)

**URL:** <https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025>\
**Category:** Book Clubs\
**Created:** [August 2, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025 "2025-08-02T02:25:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![josephsl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/josephsl/32/591750_2.png) [@josephsl](https://community.wanikani.com/u/josephsl)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/1 "2025-08-02T02:25:11Z")

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## Welcome to Week 9 of ゆびさきと恋々・A Sign of Affection 💕

Learn more about the Absolute Beginner Book Club [here](https://community.wanikani.com/t/abbc/34698)  
Visit the home page for A Sign of Affection [here](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/69215)

_Remember to set this thread and the A Sign of Affection home page to watching to receive notifications!_

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/2/1/4/214b8c124484f4f76219a9a162378f4fd8e4df93.jpeg)

| Week 9 | August 2 2025 |
| --- | --- |
| Start page | 101 |
| End page | 119 |
| End phrase | 大丈夫だった？ |
| Last week | [Week 8](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/70930) |
| Next week | [Week 10](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/71120) |
| Home Thread | [ゆびさきと恋々](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/69215) |

Page numbers may differ between digital and physical copies.

> **Last panel**
>
> ![Week 9](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/e/3/3/e3314ebd9fe60b8b43081648c6be8c4c0edd9e08.jpeg)

## Vocabulary

> **[ゆびさきと恋々 Volume 1 Vocabulary List](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14VrOPrrse8i-ent28ZdhC0tqQyEpDGsBnH-v0p67kAU/edit?usp=sharing)**
>
> This Sheet is private

_Please read the guidelines on the first page before adding any words._

## Discussion Guidelines

Everybody should feel free to post and ask questions–it’s what makes book clubs fun! But please do not post until you are familiar with **Spoiler Courtesy!**

> **Spoiler Courtesy**
>
> Please follow these rules to avoid inadvertent ネタバレ. If you’re unsure whether something should have a spoiler tag, err on the side of using one.
> 
> 1. Any potential spoiler for the current week’s reading need only be covered by a spoiler tag. Predictions and conjecture made by somebody who has not read ahead still falls into this category.
> 2. Any potential spoilers for external sources need to be covered by a spoiler tag and include a label (outside of the spoiler tag) of what might be spoiled. These include but are not limited to: other book club picks, other books, games, movies, anime, etc. I recommend also tagging the severity of the spoiler (for example, I may still look at minor spoilers for something that I don’t intend to read soon).
> 3. Any information from later in the book than the current week’s reading (including trigger warnings that haven’t yet manifested) needs to be hidden by spoiler tags and labeled as coming from later sections.
> 
> > **Instructions for Spoiler Tags**
> >
> > Click the cog above the text box and use either the “Hide Details” or “Blur Spoiler” options. The text which says “This text will be hidden” should be replaced with what you are wishing to write. In the case of “Hide Details”, the section in the brackets that is labelled “Summary” can be replaced with whatever you like also (i.e, [details=”Chapter 1, Pg. 1”]).
> > 
> > Hide Details results in the dropdown box like below:
> > 
> > > **Example**
> > >
> > > This is an example of the “Hide Details” option.
> > 
> > The “Blur Spoiler” option will simply blur the text it surrounds.
> > 
> > This is an example of the “Blur Spoiler” option.

> **Posting Advice**
>
> - When asking for help, please **mention the page number** , and check before posting that your question hasn’t already been asked. As the threads get longer, it becomes more convenient to use the Search function, which is located in the upper right corner of the forum. It is the magnifying glass which is near your profile picture! The best way to search is usually to type part of the sentence you are confused about, and select “in this topic”. This will show you all posts within the current thread which has that string of text.
> - Be sure to join the conversation! It’s fun, and it’s what keeps these book clubs lively! There’s no such thing as a stupid question! We are all learning here, and if the question has crossed your mind, there’s a very good chance it has crossed somebody else’s also! Asking and answering questions is a great learning opportunity for everyone involved, so never hesitate to do so!

## Proper Nouns

| Name | Reading | Image | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 糸瀬 雪 | いとせ ゆき | ![Yuki Itose113x175](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/f/5/c/f5cb5640dbcc09d5e1beaa228b57209d72246d55.jpeg) | Main character |
| 波岐 逸臣 | なぎ いつおみ | ![Itsuomi Nagi113x175](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/3/6/2/36260e3817613a6432a91b8a96da4fa798f84df7.jpeg) | The other main character |
| 藤白 りん | ふじしろ りん | ![Rin Fujishiro113x175](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/3/6/c/36c6c7f0776401bdef088b2c64d4315834d07501.jpeg) | Yuki’s friend from university |
| 波岐 京弥 | なぎ きょうや | ![Kyouya Nagi113x175](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/0/2/9/029d2b8e4e321446359ea478c73ef073c52c18af.jpeg) | Itsuomi’s cousin and manager |
| 芦沖 桜志 | あしおき おうし | ![Oushi Ashioki113x175](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/6/4/1/6417d8ebf834167bc0503b20d6c750fd4f873f8f.jpeg) | Yuki’s childhood friend |

## Participation

_Poll ([view on site](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/1))_

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**Author:** ![mgevaert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mgevaert/32/725014_2.png) [@mgevaert](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mgevaert)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 4:01am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/2 "2025-08-02T04:01:15Z")

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I love how Itsuomi is able to meet Yuki on her level, it’s so cute

Vocab:

ぼーっと - in a daze; absent-mindedly; vacantly  
刺 - prickle; biting words  
踏み込む - to step into; to come to grips with  
調子 - tune OR manner OR condition (English translates this phrase as “Don’t get carried away” “Don’t ride his manner/tune”)  
済 - arranged; taken care of; completed  
押しつけ感 - I like that the English translated this as “pushy”

Pronoun confusion strikes again! When Oushi tells Rin not to sneak up on Yuki, I thought he was still talking about Itsuomi and saying like, he better watch his back lol

I gotta remember こいつ isn’t actually gendered, too.

Oushi what a JERK I get that we’re supposed to see him as concerned about Yuki, who grew up pretty sheltered, but I can’t stand this type of character.

It’s working out well for me to read through it with the vocab spreadsheet, and then read it with the official translation open. There’s usually only 2-3 phrases that I got completely wrong lol

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**Author:** ![additionalramen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/additionalramen/32/701581_2.png) [@additionalramen](https://community.wanikani.com/u/additionalramen)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/3 "2025-08-02T20:01:11Z")

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Finally we get some extended sign language!

Is Oushi really questioning why Yuki goes to school and warning her not to get “carried away” by university life? He sucks.

I had to reread their conversation a couple of times. I think I mostly got it, but there’s one part I can’t fully parse:

> **pg 106**
>
> 本当は心配してくれてるんじゃないかって思ったりもして
> 
> “He’s not really worried about me, I think”? What’s the ~たりもして?

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**Author:** ![mgevaert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mgevaert/32/725014_2.png) [@mgevaert](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mgevaert)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/4 "2025-08-02T21:56:00Z")

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> [@additionalramen](#):
>
> Is Oushi really questioning why Yuki goes to school and warning her not to get “carried away” by university life? He sucks.

Just looking at the English version, it seems to be another use of 大学 as “campus” or university as the physical location, but yes he does suck lol, English version uses “Why did you come all the way to campus today?” which seems to be accusing her of coming out here just to see Rin? or Itsuomi?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![additionalramen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/additionalramen/32/701581_2.png) [@additionalramen](https://community.wanikani.com/u/additionalramen)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/5 "2025-08-03T02:50:31Z")

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Oh yeah, thanks! Ack, it’s frustrating to make that same mistake twice!

> [@mgevaert](#):
>
> English version uses “Why did you come all the way to campus today?” which seems to be accusing her of coming out here just to see Rin? or Itsuomi?

I feel like the implication of that is that he somehow knows her schedule well enough to know that she doesn’t have class or any other reason to be on campus that day. He’s so creepy!

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**Author:** ![feralfuton](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/feralfuton/32/726830_2.png) [@feralfuton](https://community.wanikani.com/u/feralfuton)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/6 "2025-08-07T20:12:46Z")

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Here’s my translation attempt for the week. Also since we are nearing the end of this book, will there be an offshoot book club to read the rest of the series? I’d like to read more either way, but I’ll wait for the book club if there is an offshoot planned.

> **Pg102**
>
> りんちゃんいるかな？  
> I wonder where Rin is?

> **Pg103**
>
> いた！  
> Ouch!
> 
> サークルの人達かな  
> Maybe they’re people from the club
> 
> 色々いつおみさんのこととか話したいけど…  
> I want to tell you all sorts of things about Itsuomi and the like, however…
> 
> ラオスのおみやげ  
> The Laos souvenir
> 
> 盛り上がってる…  
> I’m excited…
> 
> でも、こっちが会う約束してるわけじゃないしな  
> But it’s not like we agreed to meet here or anything

> **Pg104**
>
> おうしさん  
> Oushi
> 
> ぼーっとつっ立ってんの？  
> Why is he just standing there vacantly?
> 
> 友達待ってる  
> I’m waiting for a friend
> 
> 友達？  
> A friend?
> 
> 春休み  
> Spring break
> 
> どうすんのーって  
> What are you going to do?
> 
> でけぇ声で話してる  
> He’s talking with a loud voice
> 
> そんなの訳さなくて  
> I can’t translate such a thing

> **Pg105**
>
> 気になってるくせに  
> He’s interested, and yet…
> 
> あの人、２年の  
> That person over there, a second year
> 
> パソコソテイクやってくれてる人だる？  
> You’re the person who is doing a PC take, right?
> 
> それが何？  
> So?
> 
> 「友達」ねぇ？  
> “Friends”, eh?
> 
> おうしくんの手話には  
> Regarding Oushi’s sign language

> **Pg106**
>
> いつも棘があって  
> Always biting words from him
> 
> 何が言いたいの？  
> What is he trying to say?
> 
> おまえ  
> You
> 
> だけど  
> But
> 
> なんでわざわざ  
> Why go through this trouble?
> 
> 大学来たの？  
> Did you come to class?
> 
> 時々弱々しく力の入らないゆびさきが  
> Sometimes it is a delicate and incapable fingertip
> 
> 本当は心配してくれてるんじゃないかって思ったりもして  
> I think he might actually be worried about me

> **Pg108**
>
> なんだあれ  
> What the…

> **Pg109**
>
> 幼稚園から高校まで同じ敷地で同級生は4人だった  
> I’ve had the same 4 classmates on the same grounds from kindergarten through high school.
> 
> 外の世界に踏み込むように  
> So to step into the outside world…
> 
> オープンキャンパスで大学をまわった  
> I went around the college on the open campus.
> 
> 好きな分野を学んで、  
> To learn a favored field,
> 
> サークルで同じ趣味の人が集まって、  
> To gather in a group for a shared hobby,
> 
> メイクを当たり前にしてて  
> Makeup is commonplace
> 
> 好きな格好して  
> Enjoyed fashion
> 
> 大人っぽいけど大人じゃないような  
> We’re like adults but we’re not.
> 
> 私には「大学生」がドラマに出てくる人達と同じようにキラキラして見えた  
> For me, these college students” are as glamorous as people who appear in dramas.

> **Pg110**
>
> 手話だ、雪！  
> It’s sign language, Yuki!
> 
> 何話してんかな？  
> I wonder what he’s saying?
> 
> あんま調子乗んなよ  
> I’m not very much in the mood to go along with this
> 
> 乗ってない  
> I’m not on board

> **Pg112**
>
> あんま背後から抱きつかない方がいいですよ  
> You had better not hug her from behind so much, you know
> 
> こいつ足音聴こえねーし  
> Because she can’t hear your footsteps
> 
> ごめんね、後ろから抱きつかないようにする  
> Sorry, I’ll try not to hug you from behind
> 
> りんちゃんに言いに来たんだった  
> I came here to talk to Rin

> **Pg113**
>
> この間の恋か憧れかって話なんだけど…  
> The other day, we were talking about love or longing…

> **Pg114**
>
> 夏休み来るじゃん  
> Summer vacation is coming
> 
> 大学の夏休みって長いからさー、その間に何か頑張れたらいいね  
> Summer vacation is a long time, so I hope we can do our best to do something during that time
> 
> 頑張るって？  
> Do our best?
> 
> なんとか店長と距離縮めたいんだけどねー  
> I’m trying to find some way to get closer to the shop manager
> 
> いつおみさんと店長さんって彼女いないのかな？  
> I wonder if Itsuomi and the shop manager have girlfriends?
> 
> 今はいないみたい  
> Now it doesn’t seem like it

> **Pg115**
>
> でも、モテるよね…  
> But he’s so popular…
> 
> またキレイな人に囲まれてる…  
> Surrounded by beautiful people again…
> 
> 頑張るとか  
> Just hang in there
> 
> そういうスタート地点がまだどこkわからない  
> I don’t know where that kind of starting point is yet
> 
> 私には人づきあいすらうまく見えないときもあって  
> Sometimes I can’t even see how to socialize

> **Pg117**
>
> 今の手話何？  
> What is the sign for now?
> 
> 何か？とかどうしたの？です！  
> Something? What’s the matter? It is!

> **Pg118**
>
> 近くに行こ  
> Go closer to him
> 
> いいのかな…  
> I wonder if it’s ok…
> 
> やさしそう  
> They look nice

> **Pg119**
>
> もし手話を覚えたいのなら私がいつでも教えます  
> If you want to try to learn sign language I can teach you sometime
> 
> レポート出してきます  
> I’ll get out my report
> 
> 押しつけ感なかったかな？  
> Did it feel pushy?
> 
> 大丈夫だった？  
> Was it ok?

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**Author:** ![josephsl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/josephsl/32/591750_2.png) [@josephsl](https://community.wanikani.com/u/josephsl)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/7 "2025-08-07T21:08:53Z")

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> [@feralfuton](#):
>
> Also since we are nearing the end of this book, will there be an offshoot book club to read the rest of the series? I’d like to read more either way, but I’ll wait for the book club if there is an offshoot planned.

I wouldn’t be able to run an offshoot, but if someone wanted to put it together I think it would be fun to keep going.

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**Author:** ![mgevaert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mgevaert/32/725014_2.png) [@mgevaert](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mgevaert)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/8 "2025-08-07T21:45:27Z")

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> [@feralfuton](#):
>
> パソコソテイクやってくれてる人だる？  
> You’re the person who is doing a PC take, right?

I think Oushi is referring to Rin here. I checked the English and I think it’s something like "She’s that PC-(note)-taking person right?” Possibly he’s referring to Rin and Yuki typing between each other.

---

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**Author:** ![additionalramen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/additionalramen/32/701581_2.png) [@additionalramen](https://community.wanikani.com/u/additionalramen)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/9 "2025-08-07T22:42:38Z")

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> **pg 105**
>
> Since he’s saying “やっ **てくれてる** ,” I interpreted that as “She’s the person who takes notes **for you** , right?” I think that’s why he puts 「友達」 in quotes right after that - he seems to be implying that Rin and Yuki are not truly friends, but rather that he sees Rin as Yuki’s aide who provides accessibility accommodations at school.

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**Author:** ![Samraku](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/samraku/32/243505_2.png) [@Samraku](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Samraku)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/week-9-%E3%82%86%E3%81%B3%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A8%E6%81%8B%E3%80%85%E3%83%BBa-sign-of-affection-%F0%9F%92%95-absolute-beginner-book-club/71025/10 "2025-08-07T22:48:21Z")

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> [@feralfuton](#):
>
> I’d like to read more either way, but I’ll wait for the book club if there is an offshoot planned.

同じだ I bought the next 11 volumes on Bookwalker, so I’m all for continuing, one way or another