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.

I'm freezing!

Someone once said that

women who are sensitive to cold are more attractive

than women who are sensitive to heat.

Hello.

According to that logic, this woman here...

Are you all right, Hitomi?

I'm freezing! Hot pot udon, please.

-You're still hungry? -...should be irresistible to men.

I'll have a beer.

Sure.

Here you go.

Master, you have to back me up here.

She got dumped again after spending all that money.

Wake up already. They're just using you.

You could have bought a coat for yourself instead of clothes for your boy toys.

-Then you wouldn't be cold all the time. -But then my heart would be cold.

Men should be spending their money on you.

Not the other way round.

You shouldn't be chasing after younger men when you're broke anyway.

What's wrong with younger men?

And besides, it's my money.

She's right.

-I agree. We all have our own preferences. -Exactly. See?

I hate it when you try to justify yourself.

I'm not.

-You have to follow your heart. -Exactly.

A while later,

Hitomi found a new boyfriend.

Much to our surprise, it was an older man this time.

But that wasn't all.

Welcome.

Master, can you make cold noodles?

Cold noodles?

Mr. Hashimoto here wants some.

You can make it, right?

Well...

Yes.

Here you go.

It's delicious.

Thanks.

You're welcome. Can I try it?

You're right, it's delicious.

I'm getting the shivers watching them.

Me too.

Are you okay?

This is part of the experience.

Really?

This is really good.

We met at a pet shop.

Over here. Come here, sweetie.

Who's a good boy?

-He's so adorable. -He's so adorable.

Over here. Come here, sweetie.

Were you waiting for me? Good boy!

We started talking whenever we met in front of that puppy.

We already sold that puppy.

That night, we had a drink together for the first time.

Enjoy.

-Cheers. -Cheers.

That was when he told me he liked cold noodles.

So that's why you brought him here.

Most restaurants don't sell cold noodles during the winter.

That reminds me.

The jazz pianist Yosuke Yamashita complained about that.

He was annoyed that he couldn't have cold noodles in winter.

So he created the All Japan Cold Noodles Lovers Society, or something like that.

Japan Noodles Society, for short. Or was it Japan Cold Society?

Wow, that takes me back.

He's sensitive to heat, and I'm sensitive to cold.

We're a match made in heaven, right?

I thought you liked younger men.

Yes, but I realize now that older men are warmer, physically and spiritually.

My father died when I was just a little girl.

I guess he just...

reminds me of my father.

Well, at least you stopped wasting your money on younger men.

What does he do for a living?

He's a live-in employee in a bookbinding shop.

He sleeps over at my place when he doesn't have to work.

I don't need an electric blanket during the weekends, now that I have him.

-Is that right? -Yes.

Since then, they've been coming every weekend.

Welcome.

-This is delicious. -Yes.

-Give me a piece of ham. -Sure.

-Do you like it? -Yes.

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.

Hello.

Welcome.

Master, you won't believe who this is.

Please, have a seat.

This is Mr. Heihachi Inuzuka, a legend among police detectives.

They call him "Inuzuka the Relentless."

I'm interviewing him for an upcoming feature article in my paper, Weekly Japan.

A legend? You make it sound like I'm a thing of the past.

I haven't retired yet.

Well, at least not until next week.

Hot sake, for starters.

Sure.

Mr. Inuzuka, this is all he has on the menu,

but he'll make whatever you want.

Really?

That's interesting.

Look.

She's eating cold noodles.

She's sensitive to cold, but her boyfriend likes cold noodles.

It makes you feel sorry for her, right?

Yes.

Cold noodles. That brings back memories.

There was this criminal who escaped from right under my nose.

That's surprising.

-I didn't think you'd let anyone get away. -I mess up all the time.

I was really upset.

I interviewed everyone who might know him,

and what I heard surprised me.

They each had a different impression of him,

depending on who I asked.

Some said he was a gentle soul, while others said he was violent.

But they all agreed on one thing.

Every one of them told me, "He really likes cold noodles."

After that,

I staked out every cold noodle restaurant in Tokyo.

I had cold noodles for lunch and dinner.

That's some serious dedication.

No, I was just a fool.

Mr. Inuzuka, if I may ask...

How old is that fugitive now?

Let's see.

That was 20 years ago, so he must be 50 now.

They finally abolished the statute of limitations,

but I'll be retiring next week.

Life never goes according to plan.

Is he tall? What does he look like?

There was nothing distinctive about his features.

I never forgot what he looked like,

but I had a difficult time describing his face to everyone else.

Wait, I remember now.

Next to his eyebrow, he had...

A forehead mole!

Yes.

Some would call it a wart.

When will you see your boyfriend again?

You think he's the fugitive? Just because he likes cold noodles?

What about the All Japan Cold Noodles Lovers Society, then?

Did you interrogate them?

But it could be him.

Don't be ridiculous.

Sorry about that.

I didn't mean to offend you.

It's a bad habit of mine.

I've been a policeman for so long, everyone is a suspect to me.

Sorry.

Thanks for the food.

Thanks.

Mr. Inuzuka...

Here you go.

Hitomi.

Sorry. Did you wait long?

No. Let's go.

Okay.

He just left the shop.

Roger that.

-Do we arrest him? -No.

We'll keep an eye on him for now.

What? This is our chance!

Shut up. Mr. Inuzuka knows what he's doing.

Mr. Hashimoto.

Yes?

You're a dog lover, right?

Don't you want to get one?

I live at my employer's, so I can't get one.

Besides, if I were to get a dog,

I would never be able to leave.

What's the matter?

I...

I don't care about your past.

I like who you are now.

So,

if you ever feel like you want to go somewhere else,

I'll go with you.

I see.

Let's go.

-Come on, Master. -No. Absolutely not.

Go away.

This is a diner,

not a police station.

Take your work elsewhere.

Come on, Master. Help us...

Sorry about that.

He's right.

What is it?

Tell me, please.

I won't know what's on your mind if you don't tell me.

I want to know who you are and what you're thinking about.

I...

wanted to forgive my wife.

She cheated on me with another man.

I was willing to let her go if she truly loved him.

But

when I met the man she was having an affair with,

I lost it.

I said nasty things to him.

He tried to grab me.

My mind went blank.

I shoved him away and ran out of the shop.

The next day,

I read about his death in the papers.

I was terrified.

I ran without a second thought.

But...

One year ago, I was overcome with the urge

to come back to this city.

I think that, deep down, a part of me wants to put an end to this.

Let's run away together, Mr. Hashimoto.

It wasn't your fault.

Do you think the diner is open now?

I'll make cold noodles for you every day.

But...

you're a terrible cook.

Seriously?

I have an idea.

Let's have one last bowl of cold noodles at the diner before we leave.

Run.

Run now!

Saruhashi.

You still like cold noodles, after all these years.

Before we go...

Can I ask you for a favor?

Welcome.

Master.

Two bowls of cold noodles, please.

Sure.

Here you go.

Hitomi...

Sorry.

And thanks.

THE LEGENDARY DETECTIVE MAKES ONE FINAL ARREST!

HIS TRUMP CARD: COLD NOODLES

You shouldn't eat cold noodles

in the middle of winter.

Does shredded omelet give you trouble? Here are a few tips.

First, beat the eggs thoroughly.

Cook the eggs over low heat.

Don't remove it too early. Wait for the edges to harden and crisp.

Julienne the toppings.

Wash the noodles with running water, and then chill them in ice water.

Make sure to drain the noodles thoroughly before you serve them.

Here you go.

Until next time.

-Good night. -Good night.

TO BE CONTINUED

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon