story; tale; talk; discussion
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
black; dark; blackish; suspicious; criminal; darkened and dirty; sooty
(written) contract; agreement
explanation; exposition; description; account; caption; legend
to abandon; to fail; to desert; to forsake
humanity; empathy; kindness; human nature; common sense; customs and manners
to resolve to do; to make up one's mind to do; to set one's heart on; to have one's heart set on
to view (cherry) blossoms; to look at flowers
first of all; to begin with; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
somehow; how; in what way; why; what kind of
to teach; to instruct; to tell; to inform; to preach
to shine; to glitter; to sparkle
all members; all hands; everyone; everybody; whole crew
to look around; to survey
talking while standing; standing around talking
to sit; to squat; to assume (a position); to hold steady; to hold still
to talk; to speak; to tell; to explain; to speak (a language)
to surround; to encircle; to besiege; to lay siege to; to play (go, shogi, etc.)
next (to); adjoining; adjacent; house next door; neighbouring house; next-door neighbour
slanting; tilted; sloping; distorted (feeling); slanted (e.g. view of the world); bad (mood)
facing; opposite; across the street; other side
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
something; some; somehow; for some reason; (is there) something (you want, etc.)
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
to shake one's head (in denial)
is that so? (generally rhetorical)
to continue; to keep up; to keep on
house; residence; family; household; lineage; family name
neighbourhood; neighborhood
these days; nowadays; now; at present; recently; lately
commuting to school; school commute
on the way; en route; in the middle of; midway; halfway
Star Festival (held in July or August); Tanabata
suspension; stoppage; discontinuance; interruption
school festival; cultural festival; annual open day school event showcasing student talent
this time; now; next time; another time; recently; lately
holding (a conference, exhibition, etc.); opening; hosting (e.g. the Olympics)
plans; arrangement; schedule; program; programme; expectation
current student; enrolled student
biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
splendid; nice; sufficient; fine (in the sense of "I'm fine"); well enough; OK