retaliatory personnel decision (demotion, sacking, etc.)
to laugh (suddenly); to begin to laugh; to be made to laugh
stereotype; preconceived idea; preconceived notion
gyoza; pot sticker; crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork and vegetables
bosom friend; intimate friend; close friend
unfashionable; uncouth; unrefined; unpolished; unsophisticated
to be in sight (e.g. a resolution); to have a clear idea; to have bright prospects
office romance; office love affair
latest version; latest edition
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
being greatly in the red; taking a big loss; heavy deficit
Bible; bible (authoritative book in a particular sphere)
(finishing something) suddenly; abruptly
ladies' (fashion, etc.); female bōsōzoku gang
stupid; meaningless; worthless; hopeless (person, situation); beyond help; beyond saving
debut work; one's first work
texture (e.g. skin, fabric); grain (e.g. wood); detail
death; rejection (of a manuscript, etc.); lacking; without
middle and high-school students
and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
innovative; liberal; reformist; progressive
uneasily; restlessly; erratically
irritating; annoying; tedious (work, person, etc.); boring; depressing; dark (e.g. story)
restaurant with only set meals
managing director; executive director; routine business; regular business
pity; sympathy; compassion; affection; love
not yet fixed; undecided; pending
going straight to the point; cutting it short; as it turns out
light novel; young-adult illustrated fiction
to grab at; to grasp at; to clutch at