Suu Morishita’s A Sign of Affection is officially still climbing. The manga has now gone past 7.8 million copies in circulation worldwide, according to an announcement from the official X account for Kodansha’s Dessert magazine.
That is a big number for a modern romance series, especially one that leans more into gentle emotional growth than loud drama. In a manga market full of fantasy power systems, revenge plots, and endless isekai titles, A Sign of Affection has built its following through something much softer: connection, communication, and a love story that actually feels warm without being boring.
For Malaysian and SEA fans who discovered the series through the anime, this milestone is also a good reminder that the manga is the main course. Morishita revealed in January that the story is now heading toward its climax, so readers jumping in now are catching the series during a pretty important stretch.
Why this series hit so hard
A Sign of Affection, known in Japanese as Yubisaki to Renren, follows Yuki, a college student whose daily life revolves around friends, social media, and normal campus routines. Her world changes after she meets Itsuomi, another student with an international outlook and language skills — though sign language is not one of them.
The heart of the story is how both characters learn to understand each other beyond spoken words. That is the part that makes the series stand out. It is not just romance for the sake of romance; it is about making space for someone else’s world.
For SEA audiences, especially anime fans who love slower, character-driven romance like A Silent Voice, Kimi ni Todoke, or Skip and Loafer, this is exactly the kind of series that rewards patience. No need for over-the-top love triangle chaos every three chapters. The emotional tension comes from small choices, awkward moments, and learning how to communicate properly. Honestly, that kind of softness is rare and memang refreshing.
Manga and anime status
Morishita launched the manga in Kodansha’s Dessert magazine in July 2019. Kodansha released the 14th compiled volume in Japan on May 13.
The series also received a TV anime adaptation, which premiered in January 2024. Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it aired and also offers an English dub. For fans in Malaysia and across SEA, availability can depend on regional catalogues, but Crunchyroll remains the key platform associated with the anime release.
On the manga side, Kodansha USA Publishing and Kodansha’s K MANGA service publish the series digitally in English. As always, platform access can vary depending on where you are, so local readers may need to check what is officially available in their region.
Why the 7.8 million milestone matters
Circulation numbers do not always equal sales, but they are still a strong signal of publisher confidence and global demand. Passing 7.8 million worldwide shows that A Sign of Affection has moved beyond being just another magazine romance title. It is now one of those modern shoujo/josei-adjacent names that anime fans actually recognise.
With the manga moving toward its climax, interest will probably rise again as readers catch up and anime-only fans decide whether to continue the story. If you enjoyed the anime but never touched the manga, this is a pretty good time to start before the ending conversation takes over your timeline.
Soft romance fans, this one is still winning.
Source: Anime News Network