Keeping up with reading goals!

I've decided to track my progress studying Japanese on this blog, and maybe do some reviews of Japanese language books from a Japanese learner's perspective. This week I've been reading Yotsuba&!. Since I've read it in English, I know what's going on and it's easier to figure out some of the words. I've gotten a little more used to the "no" softening particle, since most of the neighbor girls use it with Yotsuba. The vocabulary is a little difficult sometimes, but usually if I just keep reading there will be a simpler part with more Yotsuba dialogue that I can understand more easily.

Fruits Basket - Meet Momiji

Kyo uses the word "yarou," for reasons I don't yet know, but it's a good word to know. My husband described it as a word which means "do it," but forcefully. So it can mean anything from "kill him!" ("do it!") to "bang her." Noteably, these train posters all use "yarou" to suggest doing things elsewhere. Go take a look, you'll learn how to be polite on trains and how to use "yarou."

Momiji:ユキ！ユキ、女の子みたいだ。
Kyo:何だ？なんだあいつここにいるんだ？
Tohru:ええ？キョ君のお知り合い？
Hatori:モミジ！ひとりでうろちょろするんじゃない！
元気そうだな、ユキもキョも。
Yuki:ハトリ！
Hoard of girls:　キャー！ユキ君の知り合い？可愛い！格好いい！
Momiji:　こんにちは！僕ソウマ・モミジ。で、こちはソウマ・ハトリ。僕ら、ユキとキョの親族なんだよ。
Tohru:そう何ですか？
Kyo: ああ、そうだよ。しかし、モミジや友で何でハトリの野郎もで。
Tohru:それではもしや、この二人も十二支?

Momiji: Yuki! Yuki, you look like a girl!
Kyo: What the?! How come that guy's here?
Tohru: Is he someone you know?
Hatori: Momiji! You shouldn't monkey around by yourself!
You seem to be doing fine. Yuki and Kyo.
Yuki: Hatori!
Hoard of girls: Kyaah! You know Yuki? He's so handsome! So cute!
Momiji: Hello! I'm Momiji Souma, and this is Hatori Souma. We are relatives of Yuki and Kyo.
Tohru: is that true?
Kyo: Ah yes. I can understand why Momiji is here but how about Hatori?
Tohru: Does this mean that they are also part of the Juunishi?

Norwegian Wood - A casual gift-giving

Watch the clip and then read the transcription and translation.

女:　かわい。消して、いい？
男:　ごめん、ごめん。もう少し待って。
女：[??]
男:　どうぞ
はい、これ。
女:　私に？
男：[??]
女：ありがとう
男：どういたしまして
女：開けてもいい？
男：もちろん（勿論）

Woman: Pretty. Can I blow it out?
Man: Sorry... sorry. Wait a second.
Woman: Now?
Man: Go ahead.
Here.
Woman: For me?
Man: Yes.
Woman: Thanks
Man: Don't mention it.
Woman: Can I open it?
Man: Of course.

Points of note:
Grammar: The woman uses "に" to ask if the gift is for her. In this case "ni" indicates an indirect object (for or to something or someone). Ni can also be used to show current location ("koko ni iru" - "I'm here").

Usage: Even though they use more casual speech with each other, they still exchange "arigatou" and "dou itashimashite."