independent training (e.g. of athletes working without a coach)
dark (color); concentrated; thick
foe; enemy; resentment; enmity; harm; injury
unable to concentrate on (due to distractions, etc.)
to find oneself in deep trouble; to be deep in the shit
for now; for the time being; for the present; though not quite satisfactorily; after a fashion
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
ex-husband; former husband
to wake; to wake up; to become sober; to sober up; to come to one's senses; to be disillusioned
mock exam; practice exam; practice test
school grades; academic results
consequently; as a result
(random) guess; guesswork; shot in the dark; conjecture
restlessly; nervously; uneasily; in a fidget
to change (lower-body clothing: shoes, pants, skirt, etc.); to put on (the wrong shoes)
going home from work; on the way home from work
make-up; makeup; cosmetics
to be rested; to feel at ease; to repose; to be relieved
to blame; to reproach; to question (a suspect); to challenge; to aggravate (an injury); to be aggravated
youngster; neophyte; greenhorn
self-respect; prudence; not acting rashly; taking care of oneself; being careful with one's health
first shrine visit of New Year
soup containing rice cakes and vegetables (New Year's dish)
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
mental health; mental hygiene
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
staying at home during the New Year's holiday
kotatsu; table over an electric heater (orig. a charcoal brazier in a floor well) with a hanging quilt that retains heat
beginning of the year; new year; New Year's call; New Year's greetings
to kick flying (often a person in sport, martial arts, etc.)
prank; practical joke; horseplay; mischievous trick
explosion; rupture; break off
beyond expectations; beyond what one expected; not foreseen; exceeding assumptions
dealing with; coping with
going out of business; closing a shop; exiting a store; leaving a shop
sense of emptiness; empty feeling; feeling of meaninglessness
utter failure; gross mistake; wrong guess
to disappear into; to be lost in; to do something under the cover of (confusion, etc.); to be almost indistinguishable; to be confusingly similar; to be diverted from (negative emotions, etc.)
to say; to be pleased to say
with a friendly grin; smilingly