competitive bidding (esp. for government contracts)
technical score (in figure skating, etc.)
lookup function; search function
outsourcing; subcontracting
next; next person; room adjoining a noble's parlor
whole company; all the companies
good offices; auspices; sponsorship; village official (during the Edo period)
being on the verge of starvation; being about to starve
to expose (a secret, scandal, etc.); to disclose; to uncover; to unmask
thorough (criticism, defeat, etc.); utter; serious
to swallow (e.g. a story); to accept without questioning; to swallow (food) whole; to gobble up; to gulp down
intolerant; small-minded; inflexible; unforgiving; unyielding; ungenerous
friend of a mother who is also a mother; mothers who are friends
start-up company; venture business
orphanage; children's home; foster home
with an interesting history (story); with a shady history; with circumstances that are difficult to explain
to be moderate in; to be temperate in; to refrain (from doing); to withhold (an announcement, comment, etc.); to be beside; to be close by
to miss (capturing); to fail to catch; to let slip
(a woman) being gifted with both intelligence and beauty
ancient city; former capital
each time; every time; whenever (something happens); on the occasion of
false report; incorrect report; misinformation; false alarm
killer; destroyer; annihilator; seducer; seductress; tempter
love passionately; ardent love; devotion
to the previous extent; as much as previously; as much as one used to
to speak unanimously; to speak in chorus; to speak in unison; to speak in one voice
to touch emotionally; to feel something; to strike home
male; manly; brave; larger (of the two); greater; (arch.) man
successful bid; winning a tender
eight; eight years of age; two o'clock (old time system)
unexpectedly; suddenly; abruptly
Matsuyama (city in Ehime)