within the story (of a book, play, film, etc.)
symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position, or because of censorship); certain; unnamed; undisclosed
pattern; figure; state; condition; conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems; model
heroine; female protagonist; heroine; heroic woman; brave woman
to adhere to; to stick to; to keep close to; to go along with; to get involved with; to be thick with
nonexistent; nil; none; nothing (at all); bugger-all
itching to do something; impatient; sorely tempted; eager
next volume (of a book, comic, etc.)
permission; allowance; acceptance; tolerance; pardon
based on; on the basis of
absurd; irrational; unreasonable; absurdity
to bend by twisting; to twist; to contort; to distort (e.g. the truth); to twist (e.g. someone's words)
to shun; to avoid; to ostracize; to neglect; to distance oneself from; to give the hard shoulder
in spite of; despite; although; nonetheless; nevertheless; but
dramatic decrease; sharp drop; sudden fall
simmer; bubble out; flow out
to boil up; to come to the boil; to arise; to break out; to get excited; to be in uproar
to benefit; to profit; to gain; to reap rewards
to run through; to run past
kind deed; (a) kindness; helping others; helping someone
authenticity; credibility
to get stuck with (some job); to end up with (something unpleasant)
change of heart; change of mind; change in love interest; (arch.) mental derangement; (arch.) madness; (arch.) insanity
theory; doctrine; opinion; view; rumour; rumor
I'm home!; I'm back!; now; at present; just now; a moment ago
to keep in pace with; to keep up with; to follow (someone's thought); to understand
making a round trip; going and returning; round-trip ticket; return ticket; correspondence; exchanging (of letters)
one after another; continuously; incessantly; in succession; by turns
beyond help; there's nothing that can be done
I would rather; I would as lief do; strong preference
a long, long time ago; very long ago
innocent; naive; artless; unaffected; genuine; childlike
present (e.g. government, administration); current; existing
dropping in on the way; stopping off at; making a side trip; going the long way round; making a detour
Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area; metropolitan area (of a capital)
to be disconnected; to get out of place; to miss the mark; to get it wrong (e.g. guess, expectation); to be removed; to be excluded
detached house; single house; single building; isolated house; house in isolated location
dwelling; house; home; den (of criminals, demons, etc.); nest