fantastic; magical; wondrous; whimsical; fairytale-like; romantic
quite; entirely; completely; as if; as though; just like
fairy tale; fairy story; nursery tale
beginning; outset; first; onset
to line up; to set up; to enumerate; to itemize; to be equal (to); to compare well (with)
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
creak; squeak; creaking; discord; strife; friction
although I say; although one might say; although called
total darkness; pitch dark; bleak future; poor prospects
toy; (person or thing treated as a) plaything
seeming ...; appearing ...; -ish; like a ...; typical of ...
book; volume; this; present; main; head
completely; entirely; all; in large amounts; a lot
treasure hunting; treasure hunt; lucky dip; game involving finding hidden prizes from a sand box, barrel of leaves, etc.
to greet; to call out (to); to invite; to get in touch (with); to cheer (on); to give vocal support (to)
balcony; veranda; verandah; porch
appearing ...; looking ...; way to ...; method of ...ing; form; style
socks; sock; stockings; stocking
to step into (e.g. someone else's territory); to break into; to raid; to come to grips with; to get to the core of
miniature light bulb; midget lamp
to be lucky; to be in luck; to be attached; to have; to be included
daytime; during the day; time from sunrise until sunset; diurnal period
rustling sound; search (esp. a home search by the police)
to make a sound; to give off a sound; to hear a sound
to scream; to whine; to grumble; to complain
to speak; to hear a voice
to shout; to cry; to scream; to clamor (for or against); to clamour (for or against)
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time
light; illumination; glow; lamp; light
to shine on; to illuminate; to compare (with); to refer to
to stand; to rise; to find oneself (e.g. in a difficult position); to depart (on a plane, train, etc.)
near; close; beside; vicinity; proximity; besides
to rush over; to run up to
shh!; sh!; shush!; shoo!; go away!
to stop up; to close up; to stand in the way; to obstruct; to occupy; to fill up
remainder; remnant; (not) very; (not) much; too much; excessively
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
really; truly; indeed; good grief
figure; form; appearance; dress; state; condition
very; greatly; immense; enormous; serious; grave
to be troubled; to have difficulty; to be bothered; to be inconvenienced; to be badly off; to be hard up