procedure; process; proceedings; formalities
city centre (center) (esp. capital city); urban centre; heart of city a metropolis
means of making contact; intermediary; go-between; connections; influence; pull
graduation; completion (of a course); moving on (from); outgrowing (something); leaving (a group, company, etc.)
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
top university; leading university; first-rate university
achievements; actual results; accomplishments; past results; track record
good story; heartwarming story; good prospect (e.g. marriage, business)
bright; intelligent; clever; smart
if it is the case that ...
instead; but (on the other hand)
parting; separation; farewell
to be urgent; to be pressing; to be imminent
hostel; dormitory; (arch.) bureau (government department beneath a ministry under the ritsuryo system); (arch.) tea-ceremony room; (arch.) villa
to run about; to rush about
sorting; arrangement; liquidation; settlement; retrenchment; curtailment
to lose hope; to be plunged into darkness
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
interest; eagerness; enthusiasm
to become loose; to slacken (e.g. rope); to become less tense; to relax; to slacken (e.g. coldness, supervision); to become lax; to become softer (e.g. ground, facial expression)
before one's eyes; under one's nose; immediate (e.g. interests); present; foresight; near future
complexion; one's colour; one's color; countenance; expression; one's face
to betray; to turn traitor to; to double-cross
slowly (but steadily); gradually; irritatedly; impatiently; scorchingly (of the sun); sizzling (i.e. sound of frying in oil); sound of a warning bell, alarm clock, etc.
have a pain in one's chest
worst; poor and boring; uncool
right; correct; proper; righteous; just
preference; priority; precedence
straight (ahead); direct; upright; straightforward; honest; frank
influence; effect; to influence; to affect; to have an influence on
sound argument; fair argument; just reasoning
to talk on and on; to rattle on; to keep on talking (without pause)
slightly; lightly; thinly; faintly; dimly
to turn right; to turn to the right
blocking (e.g. the way); obstructing; block (lump of something (usu. square), area of town, etc.); block; physical record (e.g. on magnetic tape); concrete block; blocking (from view, esp. of websites, on social media, etc.)
sliver of hope; gleam of hope; ray of hope
memories; recollections; reminiscence
brave figure; valiant figure; heroic figure; gallant figure