preparatory phase; preparatory period
wandering; rambling; roaming
to rescue from; to help out of; to save
mischief; prank; pastime; hobby; playing with (a lighter, etc.); fooling around with
I'm afraid to say; I'm sorry to say; unfortunately
modern Japanese; current written style
wild; in disarray; harum-scarum; hysteric
to lean coquettishly against; to snuggle into; to nestle into
upper half of the body; upper body
to lay down; to wear (a sword, etc.) at one's side
dealing appropriately (with a situation); taking proper measures; handling (an issue) carefully; making the best of (a bad bargain)
to bite at; to snap at; to jump at (e.g. an offer); to snap at; to hold on to; to cling to
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it
field; sphere; realm; division; branch
specialization; specialisation
synthesis; coordination; putting together; comprehensive
suspicious-looking; shady; questionable; dubious; fishy
without permission; without notice
to creep in; to steal in; to sneak in
to pass (the night); to spend; to reveal; to divulge; to prove; to verify
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
truth or falsehood; genuineness; authenticity; veracity
there is no need to ...; never happens; there is never a time when
invasion; incursion; raid; aggression; intrusion; trespass
protection; advocacy; support; to protect (e.g. rights, etc.); to advocate (e.g. free trade, etc.); to support
to become pale; to turn pale
race (of people); type of person
to have a cramp; to twitch; to stiffen (of a face, expression); to freeze; to shrink (of skin, due to a scar); to tauten
trauma (usu. psychological)
to receive favor (favour); to be much obliged to someone; to be indebted
to sell (well); to be well known; to be popular; to be famous
slipping out (a chuckle, giggle); unintentionally (letting out a quiet laugh)
calculating; mercenary; selfish; self-interested
getting information (esp. by interviewing witnesses, etc. in a police investigation)
it's best to; it's safest to; there's nothing better than
transmission (e.g. news, chemical signals, electricity); communication; delivery; conveyance; transfer; relay
process; course; mechanism
naturally; in due course; by itself; of its own accord
tail and fins; embellishment (of a story, rumor, etc.); exaggeration