I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
overly serious; serious to a fault; humorless
straight (ahead); direct; upright; straightforward; honest; frank
racing (of an engine); spinning one's wheels; running idle; fruitless effort; going nowhere; going round in circles
to doubt; to distrust; to be suspicious of; to suspect
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
to take a fancy to something; to be moved; to feel inclined to
to be able to manage somehow or another
business world; business circles; (the) industry
taking on (a challenge); attempt; try; tackling; challenging (someone to a contest)
to advance; to move forward; to carry forward (plans, work, etc.); to proceed with; to raise; to elevate
Tochigi (city, prefecture)
poverty-stricken; destitute; poor; penurious
yearning; longing; aspiration; adoration; admiration
to make someone realize (e.g. their mistake); to bring (something) home to someone; to teach someone a lesson
and; thereupon; because of that
to wake up; to awake; to perk up; to awaken (to the truth, etc.); to come to a realization; to come to one's senses
take care; take good care of yourself
letter; missive; note; mail
goodbye; so long; saying goodbye to (e.g. life as a bachelor); putting an end to; farewell (performance, party, etc.); final
single; simple; singles (tennis, badminton, etc.); win bet (bet which predicts the winner of a race)
I, myself; one-self; by one-self; even I; even one
to grow up; to become an adult
dear (old); fondly-remembered; beloved; missed; nostalgic
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
to turn one's head; to look over one's shoulder; to turn around; to think back (on); to reminisce; to look back (on)
a blink of time; (lit.) the time it takes to say "Ah!"
road; path; route; way; distance; journey; road (e.g. to victory)
to connect; to link together; to tie; to fasten; to maintain; to preserve
cherry tree; cherry blossom; fake buyer; paid audience; hired applauder; horse meat
suddenly; in a flash; rapidly; attractive; distinguished; showy
to bloom; to flower; to blossom; to open
pupil in ... year; student in ... year
carrot (Daucus carota); Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
internal conditions; true state of affairs
leak (of information); leakage (of electricity)
event; affair; incident; case; plot; trouble
sincere; earnest; serious
to be opposite; to face each other; to confront (an issue); to face
meeting; rendezvous; encounter; confluence