Awwww! What a sweet story. Always a surprise when it comes to this author, haha. The language used to describe the deaf people was slightly problematic here and there, though I don't know if that's a cultural difference or general ignorance from the mangaka. In the states, it's offensive in deaf culture to refer to deaf people as disabled, for example. But either way, this was a sweet, heartwarming story that made me cry. I loved the main characters so much.
And on the topic of the main pair, I can see why some people might view it as shounen ai or romantic, etc. Personally, regardless of their genders, they just seemed like really close, sibling-type friends to me. But I loved their dynamic and how much they supported each other. A very sweet, sad, and heartwarming story. <3
A Silent Country