to begin to say; to start talking; to broach (a matter); to be the first to say; to suggest (doing); to propose
entering the rainy season; beginning of the rainy season
clicking one's tongue; tut-tut; smacking one's lips (with relish)
reservation; putting on hold; deferment; withholding
on purpose; deliberately; intentionally
to be late; to be delayed; to fall behind (in a race, one's studies, etc.); to lag behind; to be bereaved of; to be preceded by (someone) in death
to answer; to fire back; to retort; to redo; to do over; to try again
a few seconds; several seconds
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
story; tale; talk; discussion
flute; fife; pipe; whistle
in a lively way; vividly; freshly; animatedly; actively; energetically
three years; third school year (e.g. of high school)
interrogative sentence-ending particle expressing doubt
clear; obvious; evident; bright; light
to behave; to conduct oneself; to act; to treat (someone) to (food or drink); to entertain (e.g. to lunch)
sharp (knife, claws, etc.); pointed; sharp (pain, tone, etc.); acute; keen (intuition, sense of smell, etc.); acute
hereabouts; around there; that area
settlement; solution; resolution
trouble; troubles; worry; distress; sorrows; anguish
inquiry into; enquiry into; prying (into); investigation; search; exploration
does not seem; unlikely; improbable
is it?; isn't it?; be; is
my goodness!; oh my!; oh dear!
to feel shy; to be bashful; to blush
from the place (where); from the fact that ...; caused by the fact that ...; because
love; romance; tender passion; emotion; affections
unbecoming; unsuitable; disgraceful; wrong for one's age; unworthy of one's years; thoughtless for one's age
elevation (of spirits); raising (of morale); uplift; upsurge
June; sixth month of the lunar calendar
to wait for a long time; to wait and wait; to eagerly await
for this very reason; that is exactly why
festival; feast; carnival; matsuri
watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
sōmen; fine white noodles
distinctive of; characteristic of; uniquely applying to; but; except; without
after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end; definitely; undeniably
extended leave; long vacation
subject; theme; homework; assignment; problem (that needs solving); task
digestion (of food); digestion (of information); assimilation; consumption; absorption; (arch.) losing one's form and turning into something else
fault; weakness; flaw; crux (of a matter); difficult point; point of contention
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle