rain from a cloudless sky
(instrumental) solo; recital
bowstring; string (of shamisen, guitar, violin, etc.); bail (arched pot handle); diagonal levelling wire across the top of a masu
head of a school (of music, dance); head family of a school
large bird; peng (in Chinese mythology, giant bird said to transform from a fish); fenghuang (Chinese phoenix)
underground; below the ground; world of the dead; the grave; underground (activities, movement, etc.); secret
offstage; backstage; behind the scenes
wrong; different; not like that
(all) important positions; every strategic point; each key post; (all) important parts; every important point
to inlay; to set; to stud (e.g. star-studded sky); to enchase (something) with; to mount (gems)
to emphasize; to attach importance to
to stick it out (until the end)
to drain; to flow (unobstructed); to sell well; to be in good demand; to exit the stage; to remove (a prop) from the stage
starting line; starting point
senior high school; high school
to cheer up; to liven up; to become active; to look better; to improve (in appearance); to stand out
highlight (scene); high point; climax; show-off scene (of an actor in a play)
tolerable; passable; adequate; so-so
another school; other schools
out of character; unlike one
degree of perfection; level of completion; degree of completion
(relative) merits; superiority or inferiority; quality
branches and leaves; foliage; unimportant details; nonessentials; side issue
itching to do something; impatient; sorely tempted; eager
Musashi (former province located in parts of present-day Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures)
height; stature; length (esp. of clothing); all (one has); everything; magnificence (of a waka poem, etc.)
vote; ballot; label; ticket; tag
to be overcome with emotion
to divide; to cut; to halve; to break; to crack; to dilute; to fall below
to lose heart; to lose interest; to lose motivation; to become stale (i.e. of a carbonated beverage); to go flat; to lose flavor
last; final; end; conclusion; rust
to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive
school; proof (of a book, document, etc.); counter for proofs
(one's) master; Lord; the main thing; the majority
to be thirsty; to feel thirsty; to thirst for; to crave
mum; mom; mummy; the missus
to detain; to check; to restrain