personality; character; individuality; personhood
leader; central personage
to turn one's face; to turn around; to look over one's shoulder
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
crackling; cracking; clapping; incessantly (blinking)
munching; crunching; (lightly) scratching (an itch)
looking over someone's shoulder
it is assuredly that ...; can say with confidence that ...
nevertheless; at any rate; even so; all things considered; be that as it may
skillful; skilled; proficient; flattery
it is, isn't it?; I know, right?; innit?
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
to live (on, by, etc.); to lead a life; to make a living; to earn a livelihood; to spend one's time (doing); to pass one's days (doing)
good handwriting; skillful penmanship; speedy writing; vigorous writing
way; manner; (for) the first time in (e.g. ten years); after ...; ...-sized; amount (equivalent to ...)
hiding one's embarrassment
unexpectedly; surprisingly
with a clink; with a soft thud; with a faint snap (e.g. of a book closing); suddenly; all of a sudden
diligently; seriously; perfectly; properly; sufficiently; satisfactorily
to write; to compose; to pen; to draw; to paint
to reach the point where ...; to come to ...; to come to be that ...; to start to ...; to begin to ...
until then; till then; to that extent; the end of it; all there is to it
(not) at all; (not) in the slightest; wholly; entirely; extremely; very
no good; not serving its purpose; hopeless; wasted; cannot; must not
difficult; hard; impossible; unfeasible; fussy; particular; gloomy
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
to choose; to select; to pick (out)
or something; or something like that; or words to that effect; something or other
topic; subject; much talked about; topical; in the news
hometown; birthplace; native place; (arch.) ruins; (arch.) historic remains
was it?; I think it was ...; if I've got it right; (I, we) used to ...; I remember ...; it was ...
to become clouded; to darken; to darken (of a face); to worsen; to deteriorate
to close (at a certain point); to cut short; to round up (number); to revalue (currency)
association; socializing; socialising; fellowship
to have a talk; to tell a story
long ago; a long time ago; already
to memorize; to memorise; to learn; to pick up; to feel; to think
honorific/polite/humble prefix
lunch break; noon recess; noon rest period
how; in what way; how about
unnatural; affected; studied; forced
forcibly; by force; against one's will
direction; orientation; bearing; course (e.g. of action)