Late as usual but gotta mark the end of the challenge some time right? Iโve just been alternating reading a chapter from PokeSpe and ๆๆๆๆฅญ่ปข็ every day the last few days but that means Iโm at least getting 15~20+ pages in per day.
I have to say, I feel a little disappointed until I look back at my home post and notice that my original goal was to just read the ๏ผ๏ผๅใง่ชญใใ series (and probably only two of them at my previous pace). But once I switched over to reading books and a bit higher level manga, I realize Iโve accomplished a lot more than I intended to. I finished 3 manga volumes (if you count the days I read in March) and halfway into one more. Iโm also halfway into one book and am probably ready to start a new one in the next challenge. If I can read a full book (probably ใญใใฎๆ ) and finish ๅคใซใใง in the next challenge, Iโll be really pleased.
Thanks to those whoโve organized this challenge for the past few seasons! Youโre doing a great service to many people on here! Thanks also to those who share some really interesting info in their updates whether itโs the content from their readings or the new words theyโve encountered. All of it was enjoyable to read, and I also got a nice list of texts to check out later. 
2ๆ24ๆฅ~3ๆ3ๆฅ ~ Days 55~62 / Back to Home
Pokemon Special 2 (page 77 of 207 - chapter 19)
Red meets Erika who is interestingly another upper class lady similar to Kasumi and also the gym leader. She requires Red to find an Eevee before she is willing to accept his challenge. He later enlists Masakiโs help, and theyโre able to find one with his gadgets. The Eevee they find is unlike other Pokemon as itโs able to change typing by using its ears to identify the enemy Pokemonโs type (and changing to the advantageous type as a result). Red realizes that it has a gadget implanted in its ear that allows it to โevolveโ freely. After getting knocked out, Red rushes Eevee to Erika to confirm his suspicions.
New Vocab & Kanji
็ฌฌ19่ฉฑ
ๅๅฎถ ใใใ distinguished family; good family; reputable family
ๅฏพใใฆ ใใใใฆ for; in regard to; per
ใใซใณใน holidays; vacation
ๆกไปถ ใใใใใ condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite
ๆ็คบ ใใ indication; denotation; designation
็นๅพด ใจใใกใใ feature; trait; characteristic; peculiarity; distinction
่ท้ข ใใใ distance; range; interval
้่ฆไบ้
ใใ
ใใใใใใ important matter; matters of weight
่ฆ ใฏ championship; victory
ไธๅป ใใฃใใ a minute; moment; an instant
ๅฒใๅบใ ใใใ ใ to calculate; to compute
ๆๅ ใใใใใ influential; prominentโ
ๅคๅฅ ใฏใในใค distinction; discrimination; distinguishing; discernment
ๆฉๆขฐ ใใใ machine; mechanism
ๆ
้ ใใใใ breakdown; failure; fault; accident; out of order
ๆขใ ใใใ to feel around for; to fumble for; to grope for; to search for; to look for
ๅกใ ใตใใ to stand in the way; to obstruct
่ถ
็นๆฎ่ฝๅ ใกใใใจใใใ
ใฎใใใใ ESP
ๆๆๆๆฅญ่ปข็2 (page 106 of 200 - chapter 7)
Pleasantly surprised that this story was the first in the volume that was enjoyable. I think it helped that I didnโt pay attention to the title before I read, so I didnโt have a moment to really think about the story. When the two twists at the end came, it actually felt surprising. If youโre not a completionist and would rather read the interesting stories from the series, I would suggest skipping directly to this one for vol 2. And donโt read the titles!
New Vocab & Kanji
ใๆ้ใๆญขใพใ ใ
ๅ้ใฎ้ใไธๆญฉใใ ใใใใฎใฟใกใใใฃใฝใใ a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stepโ
็ฉใฟ้ใญ ใคใฟใใใญ pile; accumulation
ๅฐ้ ใจใใใค reaching; attaining; arrival
ไธ็ฌ ใใฃใใ
ใ instant; moment; for an instant
ๆธฌใ ใฏใใ to measure; to weigh; to survey; to time (sound, gauge, estimate)
ๆฏๆใ ใใใฌใ taking a breather; relaxation; vent hole
็บๆณ ใฏใฃใใ way of thinking; approach
่ฆๅคฑใ ใฟใใใชใ to lose sight of; to miss
Pokemon Special 2 (page 91 of 207 - chapter 20)
The Eevee is in pretty bad shape and Red puts it in the machine to restore its energy (but it isnโt turned on?). Masaki finds the experimental plans for Eevee and Red confronts Erika about them using Eevee as an experiment for Team Rocket. Instead of explaining, Erika accepts Redโs challenge and starts the gym battle. All of Redโs Pokemon are at a disadvantage and he leaves it up to Pikachu. Refreshia covers Pikachu in leaves and contains its energy while Erika leaves the arena to approach the machine the holds Eevee. It seems like sheโs about to end its life, but she turns on the machine to restore its energy after Pikachu breaks free and attempts to guard Eevee. Erika reveals that she was testing Red, having heard about his accomplishments from Takeshi and Kasumi. She was forced to participate in the experiment, but she didnโt want a part of it anymore and helped Eevee escape. She wanted Red to find it and save it. She also reveals the Elite group of trainers that theyโve organized to oppose Team Rocket. We also see a little preview of Natsume overlooking the scene.
New Vocab & Kanji
ๆน้ ใใใใ alteration
็็จฎ ใกใใใ
rare species
ๅฝขๆ
ใใใใ form; shape; figure
ๆฆๅ ใใใใใ ability (to compete); capabilities; valuable asset
ๅขใ ใใใใ force; vigor; vigour; energy; spirit; life
็ๆญป ใฒใใ (on the) verge of death
ๅใใ ใใชใใ sad; lamentable; deplorable; grievousโ
็ขบๅฎ ใใใใค certain; sure; definite; reliable; sound; solid; safe; secure
ๆฏ็ตถใใ ใใใใใ to die; to lay down lifeโs burden
็ต็น ใใใ organization; organisation; formation
ๆธ้ก ใใใใ document; official papers
ๅ
ฅๆ ใซใ
ใใใ
acquisition; obtaining; procurement; getting (hold of)
ไฟ่ญท ใปใ protection; safeguard; guardianship; custody; patronage
ๅฏพๆ ใใใใ opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
็ฒพ้ญ ใใใใ elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
ๅฎ้ ใใฃใใ reality; actuality; truth; fact; actual conditions
่ฅฒๆ ใใ
ใใใ attack; charge; raid
ๆๆๆๆฅญ่ปข็2 (page 140 of 200 - chapter 8)
Again, reading the title really helped not to spoil the twist haha. But the ending twist was part dark but mostly sad. Not like a bring you to tears kind of sad, but I felt it was a shame that the protagonist had no choice but to come to that conclusion. Again, nothing special about this chapter, but unlike the first two I read in this volume, after reading it I feel like I want to keep reading. Earlier on I strongly considered dropping it and maybe checking out the book version.
New Vocab & Kanji
ๅนผใชใใฟ ใใใชใชใใฟ childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
ๆใใ ใใใใ to be taught; to learn; to take lessons in
ๅฅณๅช ใใใใ actress; female actor
ไธๅฆปๅคๅคซ ใใฃใใใใต polyandry
ๆ ใใใใ in the first place; to begin with; from the start; originally; ab initio
ๅ
จๅฏฎๅถ ใใใใใใใ system where all students live in dormitories; residential system; boarding system (e.g. boarding school)
ๅฅใใ ใใใใ vigorous; healthy; sound
็ ็ฒ ใใใ victim
Pokemon Special 2 (page 107 of 207 - chapter 21)
Red ends up at the Safari Zone for reasons I canโt remember (Iโm not sure they spelled that out either). With the support of the robot Poppo (Pidgey) employed by the Safari Zone Park, he navigates his way and encounters two giant Nidoking that are fighting over a Nidoqueen. He accidentally captures the Nidoqueen and becomes the target of their anger. Heโs attacked and chased all over the park. He tries to avoid the robot Poppo so it doesnโt become a target. He manages to save it. Meanwhile the guards in the control center are having a hard time helping him out from their end because technology failed them. Redโs Pokemon are watching worriedly. The last we see of Red is heโs about to be eaten by an Utsubotto (Victreebel). Will he survive digestion?
Two lessons from this story: Donโt mess with Pokemon in heat and Red is such a sweetheart to all Pokemon, even robotic Pokemon. Look at him with the robot Poppo.
New Vocab & Kanji
่ฆณ่ฆง ใใใใ viewing
ใใใใใ sincerely; earnestly
ๆฑบ้ ใใฃใจใ duel; shoot-out
ๅทกใ ใใใ to surround
ๅฏพๆฑบ ใใใใค confrontation; showdown
ในใชใซ thrill
ๆๆฐ ใใใใ latest; newest; late-breaking (news)
ๅ ใใ ใใใใ to add; to add up; to sum up; to append; to annex
ๆฐๅๅพ ใใใตใใ a few minutes later; after a few minutes
้ๅ ใใฏใ violation; offense; offence; breach; transgression; infringement; contravention
ๆๅฉ้ ใใใใใใใ Educational corps
็ใ ใญใใ to be after (something or someone); to have an eye on; to plan to make oneโs own
ใใฉใ็ใ ใใฉใใคใ to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find oneโs way to; to finally hit on (e.g. an idea)
ๅถๆด ใใใใผใ ferocious; brutal; atrocious; savage; barbarous
ๅผพใ ใฏใใ to repel
้้ฒ ใใฟใใ reckless; (at) random; haphazard; blind; sudden; abrupt
่ฒด้ ใใกใใ precious; valuable
็ๆฏ ใใใฉใ deadly poison
ไฝใ่จ ใใใ all the more; even more
้ไฟก ใคใใใ correspondence; communication; transmission; news; signal; telecommunications
็ ดๆ ใฏใใ damage
ๅทปใๆทปใ ใพใใใ getting mixed up in; getting embroiled in; involvement; entanglement; by-blow
ๅบใ ใใฐใ to protect (someone); to look after (e.g. an injured leg); to defend; to cover for; to stand up for; to stick up for
่ช่ญ ใซใใใ recognition; awareness; perception; understanding; knowledge; cognition; cognizance; cognisance
่ฆๅฑใใ ใฟใจใฉใใ to make sure of; to assure oneself of; to see with oneโs own eyes; to ascertain
ๆๆๆๆฅญ่ปข็2 (page 175 of 200 - chapter 9)
This was the most terrifying thing Iโve read in this series and itโs all because of the baby. I mean if you had a baby and you read a story about an an evil demon baby with really frightening illustrations, I donโt you think youโll be able to sleep at night either. Thatโs all I have to say. I want to UNSEE that.
New Vocab & Kanji
่ช็ ใใใใใ birth; creation; formation
็จ ใปใฉ extent; degree; measure
่ฆ็ท ใใใ oneโs line of sight; oneโs gaze; oneโs eyes (looking); glance; gaze; look
ใใ่ฆ ใใใฟ looking away; looking aside
่ทก ใใจ site; remains; ruins
้บใไฝ ใใใ corpse; remains
็ฐๅธธ ใใใใ strangeness; abnormality; disorder
ใใใใ (growing) quickly (esp. children, plants); (developing) quickly; fast; rapidly
ๅนป่ด ใใใกใใ auditory hallucination
็ก้ชๆฐ ใใใใ innocent; simple-minded
ๆชๆ ใใใ ill will; spite; evil intention; malice
ๆๆๆๆฅญ่ปข็2 (page 200 of 200 - "Another Story" - finished book)
The last part of the volume isnโt another story told by the demon girl, but is a series of mini stories that are actually interrelated. Unlike the cutesy tale they ended with in volume 1, this (particularly the images and some of the ideas of encountering frightening things when you turn the lights out) was absolutely TERRIFYING. I swear they did this on purpose to let your guard down โoh hey the stories in this volume are pretty weak, I guess Iโll finish up the rest of the volume since Iโm already awake at 2 oโclock in the morningโฆโ Iโm here to warn you that is a very bad idea. Oh, and the official title of these stories is roughly translated as โTo Give You Goosebumps at Nightโ and well, they succeeded.
New Vocab & Kanji
ไปใคใใฃใฑใชใใค ใใฃใฑใชใ leaving a device on (e.g. TV, air conditioner); leaving something engaged (e.g. a key in a lock)
้ปๆฐไปฃ ใงใใใ ใ electric utility expense
็ฏ็ด ใใกใใ economising; saving
็ฒ็ซใค ใใใ ใค to have gooseflesh (e.g. from cold or horror)
็ๆขๆฅ้ฃ ใใใใซใฃใใใ total solar eclipse
็พ่ฑก ใใใใใ phenomenon
ๆญฃๅ ใใใใ noon; midday
่ปใฟ ใใใฟ creak; squeak; creaking; squeaking
็ดใใใ ใพใใใใ to divert; to distract
้ฃใณใใ ใจใณใใ jumping off
ๅคงไบบๆฐ ใใใซใใใ large number of people
ๆๆๆๆฅญ่ปข็3 (page 42 of 192 - chapter 10)
I went ahead and decided to start the 3rd volume in the series. It started out with a โgoodโ story about the dangers of getting caught up in paid dating. Unfortunately, this is a big problem in Japan. The cases I know tend to involve girls who do it because they have no choice - theyโre in a bad place already and need money to get out, but in this story, the protagonist tries to get money fast for poor reasons. Unlike volume 2, this one started out with an entertaining story with a good life lesson similar to volume 1. I hope this volume continues on this pace.
New Vocab & Kanji
็จผใ ใใใ to earn (income); to make (money)
ๆฅญ็จฎ ใใใใใ
type of industry
ๆ็ตฆ ใใใ
ใ hourly pay; hourly wage
็ฅใ
ใใ ใใใใใใ divine; sublime; solemn
ไบคๆต ใใใใ
ใ exchange (e.g. cultural); interchange; interaction; mingling; mixing; coming together
ๅผพใ ใฏใใ to pay handsomely; to splurge; to part eagerly with (money, etc.)
ๆ้่กจ ใใใใใใฒใใ list or table of charges; tariff; price list
ๆฏใ่พผใ ใตใใใ to make a payment via bank deposit transfer
ใๆใ ใใใใ matching (clothing); going together
้้ก ใใใใ amount of money; sum of money
ไบค้ ใใใใ (romantic) involvement; dating
ๆดๅฉ ใใใใ assistance; aid; support
ๆดๅฉไบค้ ใใใใใใใใ paid dating (esp. with an underage girl; oft. involving selling of sex); compensated dating
้
็ฎ ใใใใ item; heading; category; clause
ๅ
จ่ฒก็ฃ ใใใใใใ everything one owns
ๅฃๅบง ใใใ account (e.g. bank)
ใๅฐ้ฃใ ใใใฅใใ personal expenses; pocket money; spending money; incidental expenses; allowance
ๅฆ ใฟใใ strange; weird; odd; curious
ไปไธใ ใใใ finish; finishing; finishing touches
ๅฟ็ ใใใ state of mind; mentality; psychology
ๅไฝ ใใฃใใ union; coalescence; amalgamation; combination; alliance; annexation; incorporation
update: Since Iโm late on posting this for the end of February anyway, Iโm just going to go ahead and continue into March. It doesnโt sound like a new thread will start for a while either, so until it does, Iโll continue to update here!
Thank you for that recommendation! Iโll probably read it before ็ฃใฎๅฅ่ but maybe after ใญใใฎๆ because I at least have the full furigana text version. Iโll probably need to level up a bit more on WK before I can truly dig into books without full furigana.