retaliation; revenge; reprisal; retorsion; retortion
world; society; life; lifetime; age; era; reign
zeal; enthusiasm; ardor; ardour
as a test; as an experiment; by way of experiment; by way of trial; tentatively
publisher; publishing house; publishing company
anonymity; using an assumed name
serialization; serialisation; serial story
participant; entrant; player; competitor
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
to beat fast (of one's heart); to flutter (with joy, anticipation, etc.); to throb; to pound; to palpitate
café; cafe; coffeehouse; hostess bar (serving western alcoholic beverages; Taisho and Showa period)
conduct; behaviour; movements; gesture; performance (on stage, etc.); dance
it is I who should say so
anticlimax; let-down; disappointment; loss of interest
like that; that way; thus
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to seduce
charming; fascinating; attractive
reckless; thoughtless; rash; ill-advised; impulsive; mad (e.g. scheme)
imprudence; indiscretion; thoughtlessness
marriage fraud; fake marriage
imbalance; disproportion; disparity; mismatch; asymmetry
be (that) as it may; having said that
miserable; pitiable; shameful; deplorable; pathetic
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
impudent; shameless; brazen; forward; audacious; cheeky
to interfere (with); to hinder; to be hindered (from doing); to become impeded; to have difficulty; to suffer inconvenience
half a lifetime; half one's life; one's life so far
to conceal; to keep secret; to cover up
young lover of an older woman; boy toy
sensitivity; sensibility; susceptibility; receptivity
complex; inferiority complex; complex (of buildings, facilities, etc.)
while; although; (but) on the other hand; at the same time; opposite side; other side
a little less than; a little under; weakness; the weak; -lower (seismic intensity)
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
weak; feeble; delicate; frail; helpless
object of romantic interest; potential love interest
blood relationship; blood relative
relaxed; familiar; easy to access; friendly
boisterously; roughly; briskly
grand; magnificent; lavish; forceful; powerful; vigorous