senior (at work or school); superior; elder; older graduate; progenitor; old-timer
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
kind; sort; type; equal; match; peer
expectation; anticipation; hope; promising; rising; up-and-coming
to form a group; to form a bunch
to come true (of a wish, prayer, etc.); to be realized; to suit (e.g. a purpose); to meet (wishes, ideals, etc.); to match (implies competition); to rival
covering; protection; backing; relief
to bear; to stand; to restrain; to control; to forgive; to put up with
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
elastic; flexible; telescoping; expandable; retractable; extensible
practice; practising; exercises; manoeuvres; seminar (student debates, presentations, etc.); practicum
to run to; to come running; to rush (someplace); to hasten
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
standing comparison with; comparing favorably with; by no means inferior to; equal to
equal division (of profits, prize money, etc.); equal split
to break (into pieces); to be broken; to collapse; to crumble; to become less formal; to throw off reserve
unexpected; contrary to expectations; by chance; casual
harvest; crop; ingathering; fruits (of one's labors); gain; result
reasonably; fairly; hurriedly; in a rush; approximately; about
obedient; meek; docile; honest; frank; upfront (about one's feelings)
as one would expect; naturally; indeed; still; all the same; after all
unexpressed; unspoken; implied; implicit
to return (something); to restore; to turn over; to turn upside down; to pay back; to retaliate; to respond (with)
weight; heavyweight boxer
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
I got it; I see; I now know; So that's the reason
to develop a relationship; to build intimacy; to deepen a friendship; to get acquainted
loss; damage; harm; disadvantage; handicap; drawback
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post)
three (long cylindrical things); three-of-a-kind (in a dealt hand)
pattern; design; body build; figure; essential qualities; character
commemoration; celebration; honoring the memory of something; turning something into a memento; memory
to give; to offer; to lift up; to hold up; to raise
to receive; to take; to get somebody to do something; to have in one's pocket (a fight, match); to contract (a disease); to catch
flustered; flurried; (shocked) speechless
to be in a hurry; to be impatient; to be anxious (to do); to get a fright; to panic; to get flustered
interesting; fascinating; intriguing; amusing; funny; comical
your native country; your hometown; my home country (i.e. Japan); countryside; country; (arch.) daimyo's territory (Edo period)
state secrets; secrets of the state
wildly different (in ability, strength, etc.); on another level; in a different league; of different heights; uneven