A Silent Voice (聲の形, Koe no Katachi?) is the sixty-second and final chapter of the Koe no Katachi manga and the final chapter of Volume 7.
Summary[]
It’s been two years since graduation and now it’s time for the Suimon Municipal coming-of-age ceremony. Yuzuru waits for her family to arrive while Yaeko gets a haircut from Miyako. Shōya runs downstairs and asks if his mother’s seen where his tie is before greeting Yaeko. Yaeko tells Shōya that Shōko is preparing Naoka and Miyoko’s hair for the ceremony and mentions that Miyoko and Naoka are starting their own brand. When Shōya asks if Shōko’s decided where to work, Yaeko says she doesn’t know and that it’s Shōko’s decision.
Pedro finds and gives Shōya his necktie before being told by his wife he needs to find a job to support their children, her being evidently pregnant. Yaeko comments about how nice it is that Pedro is back and asks Miyako if her daughter is pregnant. Maria sees Shōya on his way to the ceremony and tells him to be careful after he says where he’s going.
Shōya finds Yuzuru waiting at the ceremony’s entrance, and they greet each other before being approached by Tomohiro, who teases Yuzuru for having chicken legs. Tomohiro tells Shōya about his new film idea with the friendship theme and is told by Shōya that he keeps using that theme and is told off by the judges every time. Tomohiro joyfully proclaims that he never learns before Miki adds “in a good way”. Satoshi greets the group and asks Shōya if he’ll be graduating college this year before admitting he still doesn’t know what he wants to do.
The ceremony starts and Shōya gets a text from Miyoko telling him to look at where she, Naoka, and Shōko are sitting. Shōko and Shōya sign to each other that they look nice and beautiful before Naoka tells Shōko to stop flirting. After the ceremony, the group take a photo together before beginning to split up for their respective reunions. Satoshi goes to talk to an old classmate while Tomohiro chases down a group of guys who tease him for not having any friends.
Miki notices that Naoka has a ring and asks her about it. Naoka claims that she got it from a tall and gorgeous person who wouldn’t stop bugging her about becoming their partner. Miyoko smacks her in the back of the head and reveals that she gave Naoka the ring. The duo leaves to go to their elementary school reunion while Miki invites Yuzuru along for some cake. Shōya tells Shōko they should go too before a toddler bump into his leg. The child’s mother apologizes to him before running over to Keisuke Hirose, who happens to be the father.
Seeing Keisuke causes Shōya to space out before looking over at Shōko and apologizing. Shōya thinks about how he gave up on a hopeful future as early as middle school, and how he now believes in a bright future for himself. He describes feeling so hopeful it could make him sick, the same way his hatred for Shōko in sixth grade made him sick. At the door of the reunion, Shōya and Shōko tell each other how nervous they are. Shōya smiles at Shōko before taking her hand, the two of them entering the room together, finally ready to confront their past.
Characters[]
In Order of Appearance:
- Yuzuru Nishimiya
- Yaeko Nishimiya
- Miyako Ishida
- Shōya Ishida
- Shōko Nishimiya
- Miyoko Sahara
- Naoka Ueno
- Pedro
- Shōya's Sister
- Maria Ishida
- Tomohiro Nagatsuka
- Miki Kawai
- Satoshi Mashiba
- Keisuke Hirose
Trivia[]
- In an interview with Oima, she clarifies the meaning behind the final scene between Shōya and Shōko where they hold right hands.
- She states that the scene wasn't about romance between the two, though she immediately clarifies that mutual romantic feelings between the two may still exist, just that they aren't in a relationship at this point in time.
- The true meaning behind this scene is to symbolize the growth between Shōko and Shōya's connection from the bully and bullied to one of equals. Oima also defines the recurring motif of the two connecting right hands in scenes that signify a growth in their connection and mutual sense of understanding, which ties into Shōya's desire to understand Shōko's "voice" in Chapter 06.
Supplemental Information[]
Sign Language Translations for Chapter 62
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