Original subtitles

When people finish their day and hurry home,

my day starts.

My diner is open from midnight to seven in the morning.

They call it "Midnight Diner."

PORK MISO SOUP COMBO BEER, SAKE, SHOCHU

That's all I have on my menu.

But I make whatever customers request

as long as I have ingredients for it.

That's my policy.

Do I even have customers?

More than you would expect.

You look tired.

More than usual, I'd say.

The new part-timer is completely useless.

What do you sell, again?

Lunchboxes.

He's never even held a knife before.

Everyone starts out that way.

He's right. You must have been just as bad.

My family runs a diner.

My father died early on,

so I had to help my mother run the diner.

Teaching someone is a learning experience, you know.

It will help you grow as a person.

But he's useless. I don't think he'll last.

Hello.

Welcome.

I have your jellied fish broth.

Every two days, I make flounder simmered in soy sauce.

The fish broth turns into jelly the next day.

I keep the jelly,

and serve it to those who enjoy it, free of charge.

Here you go.

That doesn't look like jellied fish broth.

Shouldn't it be transparent jelly squares?

That's the proper kind.

The jellied fish broth here is just a by-product.

-Right? -Yes.

Thanks for the food.

Master, can I have that too?

Sorry, I only have enough for one.

I had a feeling Ikumi would drop by today.

Thanks.

She looked like she really enjoyed it.

My feelings exactly.

Now you see why I kept the jellied fish broth for her.

I'd do the same for her.

Is she a regular? What does she do?

You shouldn't pry into the lives of others.

Sorry.

Where's my fried chicken lunchbox?

Just a minute.

I can't believe the new guy vanished without telling us.

Hey...

Do you remember me? I wanted jellied fish broth, too.

Oh, right.

-Where's my fried chicken? -Sorry.

My lunch break is almost over.

-Can I order? -Give me a minute.

Sorry for the wait. May I have your order?

-I'll have... -Yes?

The mix-fry lunchbox.

One mix-fry.

And a vegetable salad.

-One vegetable salad. -Yes.

Let's see...

Here are the fried chicken lunchboxes. Sorry for the trouble.

-I can handle this. -But...

Don't worry.

That will be 2,500 yen for the fried chicken lunchbox.

Okay.

-Here you go. Come again. -Thanks.

One mix-fry and one vegetable salad.

Got it.

Anything else?

-Mushroom soup. -Mushroom soup.

Coming right up.

That's hot!

Drink as much as you like.

You don't have to buy me dinner.

It's fine. You helped me out earlier.

You were a real life-saver.

You should learn from her, Master. Service with a smile.

Sorry, I'm just a surly grump.

I like a man of few words.

Did you hear that? You're popular with the ladies.

It must be difficult handling the orders on your own during lunchtime.

No, not at all.

I want to open my own diner someday.

I don't mind hustling in the kitchen.

It helps me grow as a person, you know?

That sounds familiar.

Anyway...

You'd make a great poster girl for the store.

Ms. Ikumi!

Will you go out with me?

No?

I...

I have a boyfriend.

Oh, I see.

Right.

Of course.

Of course you'd have one.

Sorry.

Don't be.

I shouldn't have done that.

Thanks for the food.

It's late. I'll walk with you.

I'll be fine.

Good night.

See you.

Oh, man. I messed up.

I...

I never stop to think before I open my mouth.

Oh, to be young again...

Don't give up.

A lot of women like bold, assertive men.

Really? I'll give it my best shot.

Hello.

Welcome.

Was that Miku?

I haven't seen her in a while.

-She's been really popular lately-- -Komichi.

I have flounder simmered in soy sauce today.

Yes, it's fantastic. An absolute winner.

Really?

I'll have to try it then.

Yes, eat it. Shut up and eat.

-Okay. -Here.

You can have this while you wait for your order.

-Are you sure? -Yes, absolutely.

Use chopsticks.

Excuse me.

You said something about a woman earlier.

You mean Miku?

Were you talking about Ms. Ikumi?

Oh, right. That's her real name.

Her real name?

She's a sex worker.

She works at Silky in Kabukicho.

She's so popular her schedule is always full.

Just so we're clear, I've never been there, okay?

I heard it from someone else.

Ms. Miku, you have a customer.

Okay.

My name is Miku. I'm pleased to meet you.

Welcome.

Ms. Rumi...

You're just being picky.

Really?

-But surely-- -See?

You're in denial, that's why you missed the boat.

Unbelievable.

You've been judging me all this time.

I'm just making a general observation.

I get it now.

Men only want trophy wives.

Ms. Rumi, that's a textbook example of a victim complex.

So I'm stubborn and delusional. Is that right?

There you go again.

You should do something about it.

Mind your own business!

People finish their day and hurry home.

But sometimes they don't want to go straight back home.

So they drop in somewhere else on the way home.

The spatula for grilling okonomiyaki?

Yes, that's the one.

They call the spatula "kote" in Hiroshima, and "teko" in Osaka.

Seconds, please.

Kote is pretty self-explanatory. It's the trowel used to apply cement.

Teko comes from the levering action used to remove the okonomiyaki from the grill.

Get it?

Oh, right.

That's why they call the spatula "teko."

But which was correct? I had to know the answer.

So I asked someone from Kyoto about it.

She said,

"That's a 'kaeshi.'"

Can you believe it?

What an anti-climax!

I'm so confused.

I wish she hadn't lied about having a boyfriend.

If it bothers you that much,

you should take a long, hard look at your own feelings.

I...

really like her.

But...

If you can't make up your mind, let it go.

She deserves better than that.

And then, two months later...

Master?

Hello.

Slacking off?

It's a slow day today.

Up we go.

I see.

So you're almost done.

Yes.

I'm glad to hear it.

You'll finally be free.

But I'm scared.

All this time

my life has revolved around paying off my parents' debt.

I shut everything else out.

But...

When this is all over...

What do I do with my life?

Can I go back to being who I used to be?

Well,

you should take the time to think about it.

When it's all over, I'll celebrate with you.

Think of it as a graduation ceremony.

Thanks.

-Sorry, I have to take this. -Go ahead.

Hello?

Yes?

What?

HANDMADE LUNCHBOXES

Master.

Hello.

I haven't seen you in a while.

What? You're going back to your hometown?

My mother fainted.

It was a heart attack.

She's a lot better now.

But she can no longer run the diner on her own.

I'm taking over the family diner.

I'm taking the first bullet train home tomorrow.

I see.

Do you mind if I stay here until morning?

Have as many drinks as you want tonight.

I really appreciate it.

Thanks.

Hello.

Welcome.

Hello, Masashi. It's been a while.

Yes, it has.

Master...

I want to celebrate tonight.

It's all over.

I'm glad to hear it.

Congratulations.

What are you celebrating?

Well,

I finally broke up with my boyfriend.

I see.

That's a relief.

Another beer, please.

Sure.

Ms. Ikumi.

Listen...

I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow morning.

This is my last night in Tokyo.

Would you...

Would you like to visit me in my hometown?

But I...

You already broke up with your boyfriend, right?

And then, one year later...

He took my advice.

What advice?

He finally looks like a proper chef now.

"I've been telling everyone my diner is an offshoot of your Midnight Diner."

That's what he wrote.

Life is all about timing.

If you meet the right person at the right time,

who knows what will happen?

DINER

Here's how you should prepare the fish before simmering it in soy sauce.

Blanch it and then wash it in cold water.

Make sure to remove all the scales.

This gets rid of the fishy odor, resulting in a tastier broth.

The fish broth will cool and congeal the next day.

That's how you get delicious jellied fish broth.

Here you go.

It's good.

I'm glad to hear it.

Until next time. Good night!

TO BE CONTINUED

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon