to be frank with you; to tell you the truth; I'm going to lay my cards on the table
from out of nowhere; from who knows where
begging; pestering; pleading; coaxing
university graduate; bachelor; bachelor's degree
to be hard pressed; to be at a loss; to become poor; to be reduced to poverty
no; that's wrong; it's not like that; isn't it?; wasn't it?
oleaster (any plant of genus Elaeagnus); silverberry (US)
Ōu (the two former provinces of Mutsu and Dewa); Tōhoku
extremely cold feeling that makes one feel numb; sharp pain that is almost numbing; heartrending; touching the heart
to come to a mutual understanding; to cancel mutually (contract, etc.)
chattering; prattling; gooey; messy (from mud, ink, etc.)
(student) exchange; study abroad
nothing new; same as always; an old story; nothing new about it; not the first time it has happened
dialogue; discussion; conversation; interaction
contrived; false-sounding
colour usage; color usage; use of colour
still; even now; to this day
completely empty (of a residence, etc.); vacant; body from which the soul has left; corpse; shed skin (of a snake, insect, etc.)
command of English; proficiency in English; knowledge of English
traditional Japanese dance
rebounding; recovery; repercussions; tomboy; rashness; incautiousness
forget it; forget what I just said; scratch that; check that
guidance; leading (the way); information; notice; announcement (of one's arrival); invitation
environmental maintenance; environmental improvement
boiled octopus; person as red as a lobster
example; exercise (for the reader)
unshapely; unsightly; clumsy; unpresentable; uncouth; awkward
reskilling; improving one's skills
well-bred; of good upbringing
to cramp; to be cramped; to contract