Love in the Palm of His Hand Volume 2 Review

“I could only return to acting because there’s someone who believes in me.” Fujinaga Aoi.
Students Keito (deaf since birth) and Fujinaga (aspiring actor) have grown very close. Fujinaga’s uniquely expressive personality means that – although he’s already begun to learn sign language – Keito can ‘read’ his body language. But Keito is also determined to communicate by speaking so both young men are doing their best to understand each other.
Fujinaga – although he’s been acting since childhood – has been having a difficult time getting roles, because his expressive, intense nature means that he tends to dominate the stage. So when he gets the chance to audition for a main role in the upcoming theatrical version of popular manga Demon Tag, he’s desperately keen to be selected. At the audition he’s paired with another actor, Lem, to play out a scene between the two main characters with Lem as Enma pitted against his Soma. All goes well with the two actors striking sparks off each other and creating a big impression – until Fujinaga is so into the performance that he loses concentration and forgets his words. Believing that he’s blown his chance, he’s understandably depressed and angry with himself. Yet when he meets up with Keito later on, Lem appears with the news that they’ve both been cast in the lead roles they played at the audition. Lem spots Fujinaga signing to Keito and furiously takes him to task, telling him not to dare to slack off now that they’re going to be onstage together. “That’s cool that you know sign language,” he says, “but leave your charity work in your personal life.” Keito, sensing the tension in the air, intervenes and tells Lem that they’re leaving before the situation can deteriorate further. Still stinging from Lem using the term ‘charity work’ Fujinaga explains to Keito that his reason for learning sign language was “I just wanna use the same language as the person I wanna talk to!”
However, rehearsing for Demon Tag inevitably takes up all Fujinaga’s time and concentration – and it’s only when he asks Keito to bring him an essential form he needs to fill in for uni that Keito gets to see him and the other actors hard at work. And it makes Keito realize how much Fujinaga has come to mean to him – but also how he won’t be able to be a part of this side of his life, let alone watch the play. Fujinaga determines to find a way to make it possible for Keito to enjoy the play and starts to ask around about what provision there is for members of the audience who can’t hear. And he’s genuinely surprised when a certain member of the cast unexpectedly offers some helpful suggestions!
This is the first volume of the promised ‘stage arc’ of Love in the Palm of His Hand and it’s a fascinating read for many reasons, not least the glimpses of Demon Tag in rehearsal – and then on stage, which feel very authentic. Mangaka Rinteku even jokes about it turning into a theatre manga in her afterword before reminding us: ‘It’s a heartfelt love story!’ There’s no doubt, though, that as Fujinaga starts to find himself as an actor – and it’s a pertinent observation from Lem, his rival, that helps him understand how to move forward – this also makes him realize how much Keito means to him. Although he also warns Keito that while he’s acting the role of Soma, he will – to a certain extent – become Soma so that he can slip in and out of character. So he’s postponing anything to do with their relationship until the play has finished. (And in Japan, manga-based plays tend to have very short runs compared with, say, a West End production in the UK.)
The mangaka brings us some superb artwork here – especially of Fujinaga and Rem in costume and makeup for their roles in the play – and, as before, she excels at conveying feelings through the expressions of her characters. It’s especially moving seeing Keito in the final chapter of this volume – not just through his expressions but the way she frames his reactions with different panelling choices. The volume builds on what was established in the first chapters and gives the reader – and it’s still rare, these days – a real sense of a developing relationship. There’s a trailer-style promotional page for Volume 3 at the very end, teasing what’s going to come next (we can almost certainly guess!) but it’s nicely done.
The translation – excellent – is again by Jacqueline Fung and again, it’s conveyed very successfully by Kyla Aiko’s lettering choices. Square Enix Manga include a very cute colour page at the beginning and there are two special extra stories at the end about Keito, as well as some character sketches, a bonus comic page from the Japanese digital edition and the mangaka’s afterword. Volume 3 is currently scheduled for April 2026.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt, involving Boys’ Love story with believable characters and some memorably striking art, then you can’t go wrong with choosing Love in the Palm of His Hand.
Read a free extract at the publisher’s website here.
Our review copy from Square Enix Manga was supplied by Turnaround Comics (Turnaround Publisher Services).