Original subtitles

When people finish their day and hurry home,

my day starts.

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.

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

They call it "Midnight Diner."

Do I even have customers?

More than you would expect.

-Thanks for the food. -Thanks.

Master, another bowl of natto, please.

Sure.

Master, you haven't been to my bar lately.

You're right.

Next time, I promise.

That's what you said last time.

Sorry. I'll keep my promise this time.

You'd better.

-I hate it when they're just being polite. -This is June.

He has to work, you know.

You'd never guess, but she's a transwoman working at Lady Murasaki, a gay bar.

She met her boyfriend, Yoshida,

through their mutual love for natto.

You'll stay the night, won't you?

Sorry, I can't. I have a meeting first thing tomorrow.

What? You can still go to your meeting.

Stay the night.

But I...

Come on.

Okay. I'll stay.

That's so sweet of you.

Their natto bond was strong enough to transcend gender boundaries.

As they say, it takes all sorts to make a world.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Well...

That's enough about June.

Welcome.

Let me introduce you to these three instead.

-Pickled plum. -Salmon.

-Cod roe. -Sure.

These three are known

as the Ochazuke Sisters among my regulars.

Here you go. Pickled plum.

-Let's eat. -Let's eat.

I didn't know Yukari was so eager to marry.

I bet she just wanted to quit her job.

He's eight years older. Did you see his hairline?

I know, right? He's so old.

If it were me, I'd pick someone ten years younger.

-Right? -Right?

They must have come from a wedding after-party.

That's so depressing.

Women in their thirties sulking into their ochazuke.

They can hear you.

So? I don't care.

-Thanks for the food! -Thanks for the food!

-Nothing beats pickled plums. -Nothing beats salmon.

The pickled plum was nice and sour.

Salmon goes so well with rice.

So does cod roe.

You can't go wrong with ochazuke.

-Right? -Right?

The food they served at the reception was awful, wasn't it?

Horrendous.

The appetizers were ridiculously tiny.

They were so small I could barely taste them.

Exactly.

We paid a fortune for their wedding gift. It's so unfair.

This is why I hate weddings.

-Right? -Right?

That said...

Yukari looked so beautiful today.

I agree.

I've never seen her so happy.

I guess she's found her happily ever after.

Of course she's happy.

Why wouldn't she be?

Say, do you want to go to a matchmaking party?

-A matchmaking party? -Yes.

My colleague is a regular at these parties.

-What kind of men does she meet there? -I'm not sure.

But she says she's met quite a few young men there.

-Really? -Yes.

A matchmaking party?

All right, that's enough!

Have you lost your minds?

A matchmaking party? Are you nuts?

Are we that desperate?

-Oh, but-- -Have you forgotten?

We're looking for our one true love.

It will be beautiful and thrilling, like in the movies!

We must not give up!

You're right.

Of course I am.

Like in the movie Pretty Woman!

We'll keep looking for our one true love!

-Exactly! -Exactly!

Matchmaking?

To hell with it!

Marriage interviews?

Screw that!

No compromises. It has to be true love!

-True love! -True love!

There are good men out there, waiting for us!

-Right? -Right?

Master, another ochazuke with pickled plum.

-Salmon. -Cod roe.

Sure.

The Ochazuke Sisters visit the diner at the same hour every night.

Pickled plum.

-Salmon. -Cod roe.

They order ochazuke or rice with tea

and gossip about men while they eat.

They're kind of cute, aren't they?

Yes, they are.

Kana, why don't you go talk to them?

That's a terrible idea.

They must be extremely poor to eat at a dump like this.

-That's true. -That's true.

Sorry.

And then, about three months later...

Pickled plum.

Salmon.

That's a rare sight.

Where's Ms. Cod Roe?

She's gone back to Kyushu to look after her sick mother.

I see.

-That isn't all. -What?

Rumi is going to a marriage interview.

What?

And he's ten years older.

Are you serious?

A marriage interview?

A marriage interview? In Kyushu?

Yes.

My mother is sick. I want her to stop worrying about me.

-Is that right? -Wait, don't misunderstand.

I don't actually want to get married.

But I'm an only child, so...

I see.

I wish you happiness.

Screw this!

You idiot!

Take that!

We haven't been in touch since then.

I see.

Her loneliness got the better of her.

She's just using her mom as an excuse.

She used to sneer at older men.

She compromised.

She's given up on her one true love.

That's it!

I'll never speak to her again!

That traitor...

She betrayed us!

Master, where's our ochazuke?

Step on it!

I sympathized with them,

but I wished they wouldn't take it out on me.

The two of them remained friends after that.

When Miki, or Ms. Pickled Plum,

was hospitalized because of a gynecological condition,

Wow, really?

Kana, or Ms. Salmon, looked after her as if she were family.

I've been dying to eat this!

DINER

Congratulations on your recovery!

Thanks.

It's all thanks to you.

I'm so glad you're all better now.

Let's stick together.

My thoughts exactly.

You're all I have left, Kana.

Oh, Miki.

Matchmaking?

To hell with it.

-Marriage interviews? -Screw that.

Don't ever compromise.

I won't.

It has to be true love.

-Right? -Right?

They say that women can never be friends,

but I was sure the saying did not apply to these two.

I was wrong.

DINER

Say, Master, have you seen the Ochazuke Sisters lately?

Now that you mention it, I haven't.

-See? I knew it. -You were right.

What?

They got into a huge argument at my bar.

From what I heard, Ms. Salmon got together with Ms. Pickled Plum's ex.

What?

According to June,

the two of them had been going to her bar lately.

LADY MURASAKI

Don't get together with Mitsuhiko. You'll regret it.

Why do you care? Let me live my life.

You're making a mistake.

Are you jealous?

What?

You're just jealous, Miki.

What are you talking about? Of course not!

Oh, really?

Why would I be jealous of you?

Why wouldn't you be?

Don't get smart with me.

I'm just concerned about you.

It's none of your business!

He dumped you, remember?

Excuse me?

You're just jealous.

Jealous of my true love.

What's your problem?

Are you crazy? Let go!

What's wrong with you?

Hey, stop it!

-That's enough, you two! -Let go!

-Come on, break it up. -Hands off!

-Calm down! -You're hurting me!

You bastard!

Screw you!

What's your problem?

Stop it!

Get out, you stinking bastards!

Oh, yes.

Can't women be friends?

Never.

Not as long as men exist.

That's depressing.

What are your interests?

I dabble in ballroom dancing.

Really?

Yes.

DINER

If you trace the history of ballroom dancing,

you'll find that it began with the waltz.

Some historians have claimed

that it originated from the volta, a folk dance from Provence.

There are good men out there, waiting for us!

-Right? -Right?

This is stupid.

Welcome.

Pickled plum.

Sure.

The Ochazuke Sisters are now down to one.

As you get older,

you start to get

pigheaded about the silliest things.

I know.

I just...

can't let things go.

I wonder why?

It never works out,

but I can't help it.

I'm not one to talk...

but I think you're overthinking it.

Life is simple, like ochazuke.

You don't need a logical reason for every single thing.

We enjoy delicious food.

Isn't that good enough?

You're right.

Thanks for the food.

It's too salty.

You've lost your touch.

Maybe.

Why don't you try the other ochazuke flavors?

It's on the house.

Would you like to try it with salmon? Or cod roe?

I'll...

have salmon then.

Sure.

Welcome.

Ochazuke with pickled plum.

Sure.

We broke up.

He's a total loser.

I told you.

Here you go.

Pickled plum and salmon.

The pickled plum is nice.

So is the salmon.

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

I was out of line.

I let my jealousy get the better of me.

I know.

Did you hear? Rumi is coming back to Tokyo.

What? Really?

Yes. Her mother is better now.

Really?

I bet her marriage interviews didn't go anywhere.

That's probably it.

That's what you get when you compromise.

Why marry older men when there are younger men out there?

Exactly.

It has to be a fiery, passionate romance!

-Right? -Right?

Cod roe.

What happened to your marriage interview?

What are you talking about?

You're not fooling us.

The Ochazuke Sisters are back in action.

I don't know what you're talking about.

-Oh, come off it! -Oh, come off it!

TO BE CONTINUED

Do you want to make ochazuke? Here are a few tips.

Pour the tea or soup onto the rice right before you serve it.

This helps prevent the rice from getting too soggy.

Top it with whatever you like, and you're done.

Ochazuke is so easy to make. It's the best!

-Right? -Right?

Until next time.

-Good night! -Good night!

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon