to stand high in one's superior's favor and trust
politeness; good manners; courtesy; etiquette
zealous; enthusiastic; ardent; fervent; keen; eager
original intention; initial resolution
dramatic; exciting; touching; extreme
that gentleman; that lady; he; she
to unfold; to unroll; to open
white ball (baseball, golf ball, etc.)
practice game; practice match; scrimmage; workout
blow; shock; strike; batting
Koshien Stadium, a baseball stadium in Koshien which is the venue of the annual high school baseball tournaments; High school baseball in Japan, the tournaments generally referred to as Kōshien, named after the stadium; Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, a neighborhood of Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan
regular customer; regular patron; frequenter; constant companion
school; proof (of a book, document, etc.); counter for proofs
preliminary contest; qualifying round; trial; heat; primary
strikeout; strike out; fanning out
manager (e.g. of a business, an idol, etc.); in a sports team (esp. at school) someone who does the routine drudge work
to appear all together; to be all present
lively; active; vigorous; animated; brisk
to become frayed; to become loose
baseball club (at a university, corporation, etc.); baseball team
staff; member (club, society, etc.)
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; apart from ...; setting ... aside
house; one's house; one's home; one's family
time; season; period; phase; stage
to tighten; to stiffen; to brace; to strain
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
the way back; the way home; return trip
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
maid; helper; help; assistance
female friend; woman friend
to speak badly (of); to speak ill (of); to bad-mouth
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
hanetsuki (Japanese badminton); battledore and shuttlecock
(stage) appearance; performance; participation (e.g. in a tournament)