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."

Do I even have customers?

More than you would expect.

When did they make that sidewalk?

Every Saturday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Hiraga

drop in to have breakfast during their morning walk.

They've been doing it for a month now.

Master, good morning.

Good morning.

I feel like our health has improved

since we started having breakfast here.

There's nothing special about the breakfast I serve.

It's probably your morning walks.

Maybe it's the clam soup.

They say clams are good for you.

Right?

Master!

I need a favor. Can you pretend I was here the whole night?

What's wrong, Mine?

I was at a mixer party.

And I, well...

I got close to one of the girls.

So we ended up in a hotel.

"Ended up"?

I was so drunk, I accidentally fell asleep.

"Accidentally"?

I woke up to 32 missed calls and 20 messages from my girlfriend.

That girl you've been seeing?

So you "accidentally" told her you were here the whole night?

Yes, accidentally.

And then she told me, "Stay put. I'll go get you."

See?

I told you I was here the whole night.

Do you want to have breakfast?

Master!

It's the truth. I swear!

That's enough. We're leaving.

What happened to Mine after that?

I wouldn't know.

I haven't seen him since then.

Cheaters are the worst. They're the one thing I can't stand.

You're never going to get married if that's how you feel, Saya.

Why?

All men cheat. That's a fact.

No, it isn't. I've never cheated.

You will, under the right circumstances.

Men are always waiting for the opportunity to cheat.

But what about the couple who come here every Saturday?

You mean the Hiragas. They're such a sweet couple.

I know every couple will quarrel after getting married. It's inevitable.

But it must be nice to watch the children grow up and eventually leave the nest.

After that, you live a quiet, idyllic life together for the rest of your days.

-That's my dream. -Mine too.

You two are so naive.

Mr. Hiraga.

Oh, hello.

Welcome.

Here you go.

This is a first. You never come here alone or at night.

We were just talking about how you and your wife make a lovely couple.

My wife went back to Hiroshima, our hometown.

She's expecting a grandchild.

Congratulations!

Oh, no. It's her grandchild, not mine.

How does that work?

This is my wife's third marriage.

She has a daughter and a son from her previous marriages.

Her daughter had a shotgun wedding.

I see.

How did you meet your wife?

We met at a class reunion last summer, in our hometown.

We hadn't seen each other in 40 years.

Wow, that's so romantic!

This is my first marriage.

I was invited to a class reunion last year.

I should have gone.

I agree.

How did it go?

My daughter had her baby, but she isn't doing too well.

Well, you don't have to worry about me.

You haven't been skipping your meals, have you?

Don't worry. You should focus on things over there.

Thanks.

See you.

White, 10-12.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

One, two,

three, four, five

six, seven.

Twenty seconds.

One, two, three...

Here you go.

Are you sure that's all you want?

Yes.

I already had dinner with a colleague.

I only dropped in because I don't feel like going home yet.

How about a drink?

Well...

I'll pass.

You won't like me when I'm drunk.

Another beer, please.

Sure.

Excuse me.

You look familiar.

Does your job have something to do with Go?

I knew it!

Master, I saw her on TV.

-Ms. Mariko Teshigawara. -Really?

You're the scorekeeper for the televised Go games, right?

You're the first to recognize me in public.

I wish you'd recognized me as a Go player, to be honest.

I'm aiming to be a professional Go player.

Scorekeeping is just a part-time job.

It's your voice. I'd know it anywhere.

Are you a fan of Go?

Not at all.

I have no idea what's going on. I use it as a sleeping aid.

I haven't had maple leaf bean buns since grade school.

I've never had it before. It's delicious.

Sorry for mooching off of you.

-Are you here for work? -Yes.

No one from my high school circle moved here, except him.

Master, I know he doesn't look the part, but he was my Cupid.

"Cupid"?

He practically dragged me to a middle school class reunion.

That was where I met my wife.

I see.

Speaking of Mizue,

she came back the other day,

so we had a small reunion.

She said her daughter hasn't fully recovered from childbirth.

She's basically looking after her grandchild on her own.

You should take a few days off to help her with that.

I'd just get in her way.

I can't step away from my work right now.

-And besides, she'll be back next week. -Look.

Is that Ko?

Yes, that's Koichi.

He was so excited when he heard Mizue was back.

Many of us thought they were a couple back in high school.

Was his wife popular at school?

She liked to dress up.

You should have seen her skirts.

I was so surprised when she married you, of all people.

I know.

She was a serial dater back in the day,

but she's finally found her soulmate in you.

I'm so happy for you.

White, 15-12.

GO FOR MIDDLE-AGED DUMMIES

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Twenty-five seconds.

Twenty-eight seconds.

Eighth block of thinking time used.

Two blocks left.

He looks glum.

I asked him about his wife,

and he told me she hasn't returned yet.

Apparently, her son got into a motorcycle accident.

Here you go.

Is she even telling the truth?

He fell from his bike and broke his collarbone? Really?

She moved to Tokyo after we got married.

I'm starting to think she prefers our hometown.

Her son's injury was probably a lie.

She used to be a delinquent. She was so precocious back then.

She was sexy and mature, and I always had a crush on her.

She's had a complicated life.

I heard she used to be a sex worker at one point.

What are you getting at?

I thought her past would never bother me.

But I'm not so certain now.

How's your son's collarbone now?

You're outside?

I'm having dinner with Ko right now.

What? Just the two of you?

I need his advice on how to handle my son's accident.

Like how to file for insurance, for example.

Ko owns a car dealership, so he knows his stuff.

I see.

It must be nice to have so many men clamoring to help you.

What?

Why would you say that?

You know why.

If you like it there so much, you don't have to come back.

You have your son, your grandchild, and your friends over there.

Your ex too.

Excuse me?

How dare you talk to me like that?

I dare you to say that again, you clodhopper!

Country slang? Really?

I've had enough of your yapping.

I won't stand for this!

If you have something to say, man up and say it!

Why can't...

Why can't you text me every day?

You can't possibly be that busy.

Was that Yoshio?

That dumbass!

-Another sake, please. -Coming right up.

Did you get into an argument with him?

He's a big softie.

He second-guesses himself sometimes.

You've never had good taste in men.

Excuse me?

That includes you too, you know.

Master, another sake, please.

You can only have three bottles, no more.

-Welcome. -Hello.

Ms. Mariko!

GO FOR MIDDLE-AGED DUMMIES

Really?

Master, sake for her. It's my treat.

-Look. -You're really serious about this.

-I made it to this page. See? -Wow.

You're a fast learner.

I'm totally fine!

Okay, this way.

Not that way! Over here.

All right.

Come on.

I'm surprised you married Yoshio, of all people.

I thought

I'd made the right decision this time.

I was so sure of it.

Come on. Let's get you in there.

Why don't you make a stupid decision now, for old times' sake?

Ko...

I...

I've stopped

doing this.

I was only joking.

Are you sure about this?

It's a little too late for that, don't you think?

You don't even know my name.

You're Mariko.

How do you know that's my real name?

It doesn't matter.

Names aren't necessary for sex.

I don't like to play games.

What will you do?

You have one minute to decide.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Twenty-five seconds.

-Here's your change. -Thanks.

Hello.

Sorry about the commotion the other day.

Oh, it's you.

I'm going to meet her parents now.

I see.

I finally came to my senses.

She's the only one for me.

Don't mess up now.

-We won't. -We won't.

Thanks for the food.

Anytime.

He's a smart boy.

I'm such an idiot.

Sake, please.

Sorry, the kitchen is already closed.

I'm too ashamed to look Mizue in the eye.

What happened?

Master...

I...

I've made a terrible mistake.

You should go and see Mizue.

Mr. Hiraga.

If you don't clean the clams,

the soup will be full of sand.

Welcome.

The soup's ready.

I owe you an apology.

The night we fought over the phone, I...

I remember.

I see.

I should be the one to apologize.

What? You actually slept with him?

Of course not!

That night,

I finally came to my senses.

I should have been more transparent with you.

You had every right to be jealous.

I should have been

more considerate of your feelings.

Will you give me another chance?

It may take some time,

but I want to prove to you that my feelings are real.

I promise I'll do better.

So please stay by my side.

We should eat before the food gets cold.

Master, this is really good.

Thanks.

There's more if you want seconds.

Use fresh water and a pinch of salt when washing the clams.

Spread the clams out and leave them in a dark place.

Boil the clams over medium heat.

Add the miso, and you have clam soup.

The food will be ready in ten seconds.

Three, two, one...

Kaboom!

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon