(preliminary) meeting; face-to-face introduction; costarring; appearing together; match-up; pairing
so-and-so; who?; which people?
celebration (of a joyous occasion); blessing; giving one's blessing; blessing (from God)
just after a holiday break; the first day after the holidays
to make way for; to make room for; to get out of the way; to pave the way for; to open up opportunity
your daughter; young woman
childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
hill; hillock; rolling hills; foothills
earth; ground; place; territory; bottom (of a package, book, etc.); earth (one of the five elements)
to confute; to argue down; to persuade; to convince; to prevail on
near; close; beside; attendant; retainer; vassal
to show respect for; to revere; to honour; to honor; to worship; to hold in esteem
teaching; instruction; teachings; precept; lesson; doctrine
(social) class; rank; grade
advantage; benefit; merit; good point; plus
intention; inclination; mind; idea; wish; view
to become quiet; to quiet down; to quieten down; to calm down; to die down; to subside
to fill (with); to be filled with; to express (an emotion); to project (sadness, joy, etc.); to wear (e.g. a smile)
earnest; sincere; pressing; urgent; pertinent; appropriate
to stick (into); to pierce; to enter at full speed; to hit (e.g. the catcher's mitt) at speed
chime; bell (e.g. doorbell)
to close (at a certain point); to cut short; to round up (number); to revalue (currency)
every person; every mouth; every entrance
to tie (to); to fasten; to attach; to connect (one thing with another); to link; to bring together
only; merely; but; no more than
result; consequence; consequently; as a result; as a result of; following
about this time; about now
to look out on; to overlook; to face (a situation, crisis, etc.); to meet (e.g. death); to deal with (an issue); to attend (e.g. a function)
to project; to show (on a screen); to portray; to depict; to reflect (the times, mood, etc.)
to impose (a tax, fine, etc.); to levy; to assign (a task, duty, etc.); to give; to set
next-door neighbors; (living, sitting) next to each other
but; however; although; though
high achiever; student with good academic results
appearance; air; condition; state; form
with a rustling sound; rippling (of a stream, etc.); murmuring; slurping down (ochazuke); quickly and easily (e.g. write a letter); with ease
to treat; to handle; to deal with; to arrange; to decorate (with); to adorn (with)
folding into four; quarto
foil stamping; hot stamping; gold tooling (a book); gilt tooling
intimacy; friendship; friendly relations