Recap
After declaring his love, Issei goes in for a kiss and Suzu stops him. Flustered, she says things are moving too fast, he’s ten years younger, and finally, ‘stay’. 

At her work, Suzu remembers and smiles, catching the attention of one of the nurses. At his work, Issei seems down. He finds a ring and letter in the house they are cleaning out and sets them aside. 

The clinic director tries to get the doctors and nurses enthusiastic about taking a fishing trip together as a group party. 

Suzu starts sign language lessons and Issei’s boss Chiaki is there. They struggle through signing a conversation, either ignoring or not understanding the teacher’s suggestions, and doing a lot of pantomimes. 

Afterward, they talk over beer and fried foods. Chiaki explains that she was the one to clear out Issei’s parents’ place. Issei was upset, but Chiaki found some mementos for him, including his father’s camera. Issei showed up soon after and asked for a job. He met Chiaki’s young daughter Sakura, who was fascinated when he signed his name for her.

Chiaki worries he gets too involved with clients, but Suzu says she was saved by him. 

Our hero is pouting over his phone, still depressed he has to ‘stay’. Haru laughs and tells him he’s too aggressive. Haru says love needs to be like ‘gentle waves’. Chiaki’s daughter shows up with food, she’s now in High School and fluent in sign language.

Suzu and Sasaki are the only ones to show up for the fishing trip. They catch some tiny fish and the director tries to set them up together. He has to run to his wedding anniversary, leaving Suzu and Sasaki with the fish. Luckily Sasaki can cook.

At Sasaki’s, Suzu learns about the death of his wife and child. Suzu was there, and Sasaki remembers she was the only one crying as the bodies were taken away. He wasn’t even crying. She inspired him to become a doctor. Suzu is embarrassed she didn’t remember but starts crying again. Sasaki almost touches her cheek.

Issei manages to find the intended recipient of the letter and ring, but the relationship was an affair and she knocks Issei away, into some water. After Sasaki has a ridiculous fall walking Suzu home, a wet Issei sees Suzu helping him up the stairs.

At work, the matchmaking director is thrilled Suzu and Sasaki ate together and the nurses are interested too.

He’s not the only matchmaker though. After class Chiaki sends Suzu to Issei’s with food, since he was out sick. Issei’s grandmother, also deaf, is thrilled to see Suzu and shoves her into Issei’s room. Suzu sees Issei’s mementos from his travels and a picture of her. 

Issei is sullen and texts about seeing her with Sasaki. But when he makes her feed him, he remembers Haru’s advice about gentle waves and doesn’t push. 

Suzu sleeps by his bed and the next day he walks her home. He fills her in on what happened with the client, and she has bad memories of her trial and being called a murderer. 

Nearby, someone is spying on them.

Issei sees her distress and pulls her into a silly dance. Suzu says he’s not childish but frank. They almost kiss, but he signs that he’ll hold off kissing until he thinks she really likes him. She gives him a forehead kiss. 

Thoughts
They’re so cute. This is not a show to watch when you’re in the mood for angst. This is the show to watch when you want to see flawed but well-intentioned people with good intentions.

Issei can be a bit much, but Suzu is pretty good at handling him. I’m not a huge fan of jealousy in dramas, but considering they aren’t together yet I guess I’ll give him a pass. The way she doesn’t take it seriously is probably the best possible reaction. She even seems to enjoy his silliness. 

It’s sweet that she feels overwhelmed enough to tell him to wait, but she also goes to take sign language classes. Some of their differences make her nervous, notably the age difference, but it’s not stopping her from her desire to get to know him. And she doesn’t look down on him for his pushiness, even when it gets him into trouble, because it’s also what she likes about him.

The secondary characters in this show are wonderful too. Chiaki reminds me of women I’ve met, with her awkward clumsiness combined with maternal warmth. Her pantomimes were comical and I’m still not sure what she was trying to convey in places. Issei’s grandmother, the nurses, the director, everyone is adorable here. And I don’t blame the clinic director for wanting Suzu and Sasaki to be a couple, they are both good, kind people who do look like they’d make a good match. 

But Sasaki wouldn’t pull Suzu into a dance to cheer her up. He’s a good guy, but he’s not Issei.