Koibito
Obsession knows no bounds.
When Kouhei literally bumps into Kyouko one morning, it's love at first sight...for one of them. Told from alternating male and female viewpoints, this slowly escalating thriller will grip you until the very last scene. (52 episodes)
Episode 1
Kouhei bumps into a mysterious woman on his way to work.
Notes: This episode contains excellent vocabulary, such as "to be in time (for something)," "mad dash," and the pattern for saying you "should have done" something.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers |  |
| Standard | Unread | 14262 |
Episode 2
A shift in perspective sheds new light on the encounter.
Notes: This episode contains interesting vocabulary, such as a pattern that means "before (someone) realized what was happening," and a note on the point-of-view used in this story.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 7537 |
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Episode 3
Kouhei rushes for his train.
Notes: This episode contains multiple examples of omitting a verb of saying or thinking and instead providing a simultaneously occurring action, as well as interesting expressions such as "to be out of breath" and "it's only when X that Y."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 5082 |
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Episode 4
Kyouko ponders what to do about an item the man left behind in his hurry.
Notes: This episode contains two instances of the zu negative with usage notes, plus several other extended annotations.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 3456 |
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Episode 5
Kouhei plans his workday.
Notes: This episode contains a good example of the "affective passive," which focuses on the impact of an event on the speaker, as well as interesting expressions such as "dizzyingly busy."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 3041 |
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Episode 6
Kyouko hits on a way to return the business card holder.
Notes: This episode contains notes on moshi(mo), the difference between omou and kangaeru, and a note on the spelling of several common names.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2959 |
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Episode 8
Kouhei revels in the abundance of an early evening convenience store.
Notes: This delightful episode contains lots of great vocabulary and fun cultural notes.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2702 |
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Episode 12
Kyouko's efforts finally pay off.
Notes: This episode contains notes on interesting grammar points, such as the use of -te mieru with selected verbs to mean "to appear (a certain way)."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2418 |
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Episode 13
Kyouko's spirits soar at the convenience store.
Notes: This episode contains extended notes on two different uses of ...you ni, as well as a reminder on Japanese verbs of emotion, such as iraira suru.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2394 |
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Episode 14
Kyouko feels closer than ever to Kouhei.
Notes: This episode contains a few less common vocabulary words but should be mostly straightforward.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2344 |
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Episode 16
Kouhei notices a pattern. But is he just being paranoid?
Notes: This episode contains useful expressions like ...to iu tokoro darou ka, and, as always, several extended grammar notes.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2260 |
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Episode 17
Kouhei attempts to pin down the identity of the owner of the footsteps he keeps hearing.
Notes: This exciting episode contains excellent expressions such as "pinning down (the truth, a suspect, etc)," "holding one's breath," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2240 |
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Episode 18
The events of the previous night cause Kyouko to reconsider her behavior.
Notes: This episode contains an example of an expression that means that something nearly happened, as well as a discussion of two words that both mean "to stop (doing something)."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2197 |
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Episode 19
Kouhei and colleague Saitou work hard to promote a new product.
Notes: This episode showcases useful expressions such as "to incline one's head (in confusion)," plus a suffix that means "to do something and leave it in that state."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2180 |
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Episode 20
Saitou points out something interesting during lunch.
Notes: This episode contains an interesting analysis of Kouhei and Saitou's speech patterns and what we can learn from them.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2138 |
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Episode 21
Kouhei and Saitou discuss the situation.
Notes: This episode contains a slang term for someone's house as well as a great example of the very common and very conversational to iu ka, which can be used to amend or clarify the previous statement.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2122 |
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Episode 22
Kyouko looks for another way to learn more about Kouhei.
Notes: This episode contains lots of good modern-day vocabulary, such as the words for "website" and "Facebook," plus a pattern that means "almost as if."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2103 |
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Episode 23
Kyouko finds a way to stay connected to Kouhei.
Notes: This episode contains useful expressions, such as an expression that means "to capture on film," as well as an interesting cultural tidbit related to a description of Kouhei.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2055 |
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Episode 24
An idea occurs to Kyouko as she sips her coffee.
Notes: This exciting episode contains great vocabulary, such as words for "to occur to someone," "to pretend (to do something)," and "nonchalant," along with several in-depth grammar notes, as always.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2033 |
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Episode 25
Kouhei unexpectedly makes a new friend at a company event.
Notes: This episode contains some fun male banter and good vocabulary, such as the word for "to grumble."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2045 |
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Episode 27
As his relationship with Mai continues to develop, Kouhei mulls over what to do about the woman who keeps showing up around him.
Notes: This episode contains notes on two different uses of the word wake.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1960 |
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Episode 28
Kyouko puts a plan into action.
Notes: This episode contains fun vocabulary, such as a video game-derived word that means to "clear a stage" in a game, and a useful expression that means "it isn't necessarily so."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1942 |
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Episode 29
With single-minded focus, Kyouko carries out the next step of her plan.
Notes: This episode contains mostly straightforward grammar, but includes a few words and expressions that might be new, including "to tell a lie" and "a sense of guilt."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1912 |
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Episode 31
Kyouko looks closely at her surroundings to learn everything she can about Kouhei.
Notes: This episode contains interesting notes, such as one about a special case in which the particle wo can be used with suki to mark the liked thing, and a pattern that means "one by one."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1881 |
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Episode 33
As Kouhei and Mai get closer, they are observed by Kyouko.
Notes: This episode contains an excellent example of the affective passive, also known as the "suffering passive," as well as lots of good vocabulary, including a informal contraction for referring to your home, similar to "my place" in English.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1857 |
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Episode 34
Still coming down from her exciting day, Kyouko's head whirls.
Notes: This episode contains friendly reminders on a use of kurai to mark a trivial thing or amount, the pattern -te kuru to mean "to go and do," and others.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1853 |
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Episode 35
An upbeat Kyouko prepares for an enjoyable Friday evening when she witnesses something unexpected.
Notes: This episode contains excellent vocabulary and expressions, such as "to grow pale (from shock, etc)," and a reminder on the use of tokoro to indicate a scene or snapshot in time.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1847 |
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Episode 38
Kyouko reacts to her newfound knowledge of Mai.
Notes: This episode contains notes to demystify two sets of words that are written identically but mean subtly different things.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1811 |
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Episode 39
Kyouko takes steps to rid the environment of the other woman's presence.
Notes: This episode contains great vocab, such as words for "to fold," "to purify," and a word you might not realize means "the outside," plus several interesting notes, as always.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1798 |
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Episode 40
Caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Kouhei and Mai, Kyouko scrambles.
Notes: This episode contains excellent vocabulary, such as "to snatch," "gap," and "to cover (one's mouth, ears, etc)," as well as extended notes such as one about a pattern that means "the more one ..., the more ...."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1795 |
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Episode 41
As things get more serious between Kouhei and Mai, a news program provokes a disagreement.
Notes: This article contains important vocabulary, such as the word for bullying and an expression that means "to get angry as an instantaneous reaction to something someone says or does."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1794 |
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Episode 43
A surprised and impressed Kouhei enjoys the gift left for him.
Notes: This episode contains lots of fun vocabulary and patterns, such as a word that means "to polish off (food)" and a pattern for making very colloquial, very emphatic adjectives.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1774 |
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Episode 44
Kyouko tries to deal with a memory that has been seared into her mind.
Notes: This episode is longer than usual but contains mostly straightforward vocabulary.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1769 |
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Episode 46
Sparks fly when Kyouko and Mai come face-to-face.
Notes: This thrilling episode features fantastic acting, great vocabulary, and more examples of "heated questions" and ら-row to ん substitution. Grab your popcorn!
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1771 |
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Episode 47
Kouhei learns what has happened.
Notes: This episode contains mostly straightforward grammar and vocabulary, including a common word that means "fore-feeling" or "premonition."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1773 |
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Episode 49
Worried about his friend, Saitou encourages Kouhei to make a change.
Notes: This episode contains great vocabulary, such as a word that means "to become clear/alert," and one that means "to help someone a great deal."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1765 |
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Episode 50
Kouhei becomes more acquainted with his new neighbor.
Notes: This episode contains great vocabulary, such as "ideal" and "to break out of (a loop or pattern, etc)," as well as refreshers on patterns that mean "not to mention / it goes without saying" and "the more one does something, the more...."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1769 |
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Episode 52
The thrilling conclusion of Koibito.
Notes: This episode contains lots of great vocabulary, as always.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1845 |