blushing; getting red in the face; embarrassment
counterattack; counteroffensive; counterblow
war situation; progress of a battle
striking; remarkable; considerable
(suffer) deterioration; growing worse; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
self-proclaimed; self-professed; professing oneself to be; calling oneself; first person
to corner; to drive to the wall; to run down; to track down; to chase after
reset; fresh start; new beginning
low-life; sleazebag; boor; person of humble rank; humble person; peasant
to hurt; to ache; to feel a pain; to be injured; to be spoiled (e.g. food); to be damaged
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
draw (in competition); tie game
to behave buggily (of software); to act up; to behave strangely
hm; um; huh?; what?; nuh-uh; no
old; aged; long; since long ago; of the distant past; long-ago
compulsion; coercion; forcing (to do); enforcement
freezing; turning into ice; freezing; locking up; freezing (in one's tracks); frieze (part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice)
barefaced (e.g. lie); shameless; transparent; pure white; very clear
doubt; question; uncertainty; skepticism; scepticism; suspicion
point of a spear; spearhead; focus (of one's attack, criticism, etc.); aim; force (of an argument); edge
innocent look; nonchalant look; look of ignorance; air of innocence
cassette (tape); game cartridge
to replace; to substitute; to shift; to change places
(fictional) character; character; personality; persona
to assume the air of ...; to behave like ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
toilet; restroom; bathroom; lavatory
to barricade oneself in; to hold (a fort, etc.); to shut oneself up; to be besieged; to dig in
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
cunning deed; sly trick; foul play; cunning person; sly fellow; cheat
to gouge; to hollow out; to greatly perturb; to cause emotional pain; to get to the bottom of things; to relentlessly bring the truth to light
to do over again; to redo; to start over; to remake; to resume; to recommence
to desire; to wish; to beg; to request; to have something done for oneself
to creep; to steal up; to draw near unnoticed
to push someone (towards); to encourage someone
setting up (a structure, building, camp, etc.); construction; preparation (e.g. of a venue); arrangement (of an event)
another time; some other time
proof; evidence; certificate; license; to testify (usu. Christian religious context); enlightenment
to refuse; to reject; to decline; to prevent (from doing); to deny (e.g. access); to block