1
00:00:56,222 --> 00:01:00,660
When people finish their day
and hurry home,
2
00:01:01,561 --> 00:01:03,863
my day starts.
3
00:01:20,713 --> 00:01:26,052
My diner is open from midnight
to seven in the morning.
4
00:01:26,352 --> 00:01:29,556
They call it "Midnight Diner."
5
00:01:34,194 --> 00:01:36,029
Do I even have customers?
6
00:01:36,129 --> 00:01:38,431
More than you would expect.
7
00:01:50,710 --> 00:01:53,680
Thanks for everything, Master.
8
00:01:58,418 --> 00:02:00,854
I'll be going now.
9
00:02:02,388 --> 00:02:03,323
Okay.
10
00:02:04,724 --> 00:02:08,027
Take care, Tezuka.
11
00:02:24,644 --> 00:02:28,214
Is he all right? He looked ready
to jump in front of a train.
12
00:02:29,749 --> 00:02:31,551
He's going back to his hometown.
13
00:02:32,752 --> 00:02:34,921
Things didn't work out for him?
14
00:02:35,722 --> 00:02:36,689
No.
15
00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,563
It's hard to get back on your feet
after a bad fall.
16
00:02:44,964 --> 00:02:48,168
But you get used to it if your life
is just one bad fall after another.
17
00:02:49,035 --> 00:02:50,870
You're not from the country,
you wouldn't understand.
18
00:02:51,471 --> 00:02:53,573
None of us want to leave Tokyo
and go back to our hometown.
19
00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,142
But you're from Tokyo.
20
00:02:59,913 --> 00:03:01,614
Welcome.
21
00:03:01,981 --> 00:03:02,815
Hello.
22
00:03:02,882 --> 00:03:04,384
Tomato roll and beer, please.
23
00:03:04,484 --> 00:03:05,518
Sure.
24
00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:06,853
Sit down.
25
00:03:11,090 --> 00:03:13,893
-It's a nice diner, isn't it?
-Yes, it is.
26
00:03:14,227 --> 00:03:17,263
Did you bump into Tezuka?
27
00:03:17,864 --> 00:03:19,032
Tezuka?
28
00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:22,802
He was here just now.
29
00:03:23,736 --> 00:03:25,004
Really?
30
00:03:25,605 --> 00:03:27,307
How is he?
31
00:03:29,042 --> 00:03:33,012
He went back to his hometown
after eating my tomato rolls.
32
00:03:34,314 --> 00:03:37,050
I see. He went home.
33
00:03:39,519 --> 00:03:40,887
Master, let me introduce you.
34
00:03:41,087 --> 00:03:44,757
This is Hashimoto.
He won the Best Newcomer Award.
35
00:03:44,857 --> 00:03:46,025
Pleased to meet you.
36
00:03:46,125 --> 00:03:48,228
Congratulations.
37
00:03:49,262 --> 00:03:50,897
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
38
00:03:50,997 --> 00:03:52,765
Best Newcomer Award?
39
00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:55,034
For manga. Do you know Big Comic?
40
00:03:55,134 --> 00:03:58,204
I read that magazine all the time.
41
00:03:58,404 --> 00:04:01,107
You'll see his winning work
in the next issue.
42
00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:02,942
He may be starting a manga series soon.
43
00:04:03,243 --> 00:04:05,345
That's amazing.
44
00:04:05,578 --> 00:04:08,615
Maybe we should get his autograph.
45
00:04:09,015 --> 00:04:10,483
Or am I getting ahead of myself?
46
00:04:28,167 --> 00:04:29,202
Thanks for the food.
47
00:04:33,439 --> 00:04:34,440
This is really good.
48
00:04:35,541 --> 00:04:36,542
I know, right?
49
00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,515
His name is Osami Tezuka.
50
00:04:43,783 --> 00:04:47,253
It's hard to believe, right?
It's his real name.
51
00:04:49,055 --> 00:04:51,357
It's one letter away from Osamu Tezuka,
the father of manga.
52
00:04:52,258 --> 00:04:53,926
I think I saw his name a few years ago.
53
00:04:54,127 --> 00:04:56,195
He was a previous
Best Newcomer Award winner.
54
00:04:57,230 --> 00:04:59,265
I was his editor.
55
00:05:00,366 --> 00:05:03,136
I told him to change his name
because he would never live up to it.
56
00:05:04,904 --> 00:05:07,340
In the end, he fizzled out.
57
00:05:08,007 --> 00:05:10,310
He drew a few other mangas,
but none of them worked out.
58
00:05:12,445 --> 00:05:13,913
I see.
59
00:05:15,081 --> 00:05:16,516
I guess he gave up.
60
00:05:19,085 --> 00:05:21,921
Don't worry, Mr. Uno.
61
00:05:22,388 --> 00:05:24,357
I will never give up.
62
00:05:25,758 --> 00:05:26,926
I'm counting on you.
63
00:05:27,226 --> 00:05:29,228
I voted for you in the publisher meetings.
64
00:05:29,329 --> 00:05:32,031
I won't let you down.
I quit my part-time job yesterday.
65
00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:34,967
You're going all-in?
66
00:05:35,501 --> 00:05:37,570
Wow, that's a huge gamble.
67
00:05:38,071 --> 00:05:40,807
I'm rooting for you.
68
00:05:42,008 --> 00:05:43,042
Sit down.
69
00:05:43,976 --> 00:05:45,211
I can't eat.
70
00:05:52,618 --> 00:05:55,521
For safety reasons, please refrain
from rushing onto the train.
71
00:05:55,588 --> 00:05:56,422
BIG COMIC ORIGINAL
72
00:05:56,489 --> 00:05:58,958
-How much?
-That will be 320 yen.
73
00:06:02,028 --> 00:06:06,799
You won one million yen with this?
That's amazing.
74
00:06:07,934 --> 00:06:10,937
Lucky you. Your dream came true.
75
00:06:11,304 --> 00:06:14,440
And I thought you were an idiot
when you declined the job offer.
76
00:06:15,007 --> 00:06:17,510
-Would you like to read it, Yamada?
-Sure.
77
00:06:19,412 --> 00:06:22,215
Drawing manga is all I can do.
78
00:06:23,316 --> 00:06:25,251
I should have a dream too.
79
00:06:25,351 --> 00:06:27,387
Seriously? You're a public servant.
80
00:06:29,689 --> 00:06:33,626
I know! I'll represent Japan.
81
00:06:33,726 --> 00:06:34,560
In what?
82
00:06:35,495 --> 00:06:36,763
Teaching?
83
00:06:37,163 --> 00:06:38,631
Soccer.
84
00:06:38,965 --> 00:06:40,867
You were a bench player in high school.
85
00:07:39,959 --> 00:07:41,160
I'll be off now.
86
00:07:43,062 --> 00:07:44,030
Okay.
87
00:07:54,106 --> 00:07:56,542
Wait, Noriko.
88
00:07:58,644 --> 00:08:00,713
I don't have any money left
in my train pass.
89
00:08:17,697 --> 00:08:20,833
What do you think, Ms. Wakamiya?
Be honest with me.
90
00:08:22,134 --> 00:08:25,304
Well, I had a good laugh.
91
00:08:26,839 --> 00:08:28,074
You laughed?
92
00:08:34,013 --> 00:08:36,015
It's not supposed to be funny.
93
00:08:36,082 --> 00:08:38,484
Oh, no, let me explain.
94
00:08:38,885 --> 00:08:40,987
I know it isn't supposed to be funny.
95
00:08:41,587 --> 00:08:44,090
But it was so ridiculous
I couldn't help it.
96
00:08:46,859 --> 00:08:49,328
What about Mr. Uno? What did he say?
97
00:08:49,495 --> 00:08:54,233
He's busy sorting out the details
for our new magazine.
98
00:08:54,534 --> 00:08:57,837
That's unfortunate.
He's really good at his job.
99
00:09:03,009 --> 00:09:05,244
You have to convince
the chief editor you can do this
100
00:09:06,846 --> 00:09:08,915
if you want to make
your professional debut.
101
00:09:09,448 --> 00:09:11,117
I don't get her.
102
00:09:11,551 --> 00:09:15,121
I have serious doubts about Ms. Wakamiya.
103
00:09:16,822 --> 00:09:20,593
I think she has a good eye.
104
00:09:21,460 --> 00:09:23,095
That's not the point.
105
00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:26,766
She has to have the courage
to die with me if necessary.
106
00:09:26,866 --> 00:09:29,201
That's what editors do for their artists.
107
00:09:29,368 --> 00:09:32,104
I think you're taking this
a little too seriously.
108
00:09:37,143 --> 00:09:40,346
You would die with me, right?
109
00:09:41,714 --> 00:09:42,582
What?
110
00:09:45,084 --> 00:09:47,019
I won't give up.
111
00:09:47,954 --> 00:09:50,890
Manga is all I have.
112
00:10:28,394 --> 00:10:31,263
Sorry, Noriko.
113
00:10:36,402 --> 00:10:39,305
You could have paid the rent
with your drinking money.
114
00:10:55,221 --> 00:10:56,756
Where did my passion
115
00:10:58,324 --> 00:11:00,226
for manga go?
116
00:11:26,285 --> 00:11:31,090
I tapped into my personal anxieties
for this new manga.
117
00:11:32,058 --> 00:11:34,894
I stopped trying to overthink it.
118
00:11:35,561 --> 00:11:36,996
I just went with the flow.
119
00:11:54,747 --> 00:11:57,249
I think you should follow their example.
120
00:11:59,351 --> 00:12:01,587
She has terrible taste.
121
00:12:04,590 --> 00:12:06,992
You have to back me up here, Mr. Uno.
122
00:12:08,294 --> 00:12:09,395
Hashimoto.
123
00:12:10,196 --> 00:12:12,264
Do you actually find this interesting?
124
00:12:13,933 --> 00:12:14,767
What?
125
00:12:16,869 --> 00:12:18,270
Do you think your manga is interesting?
126
00:12:19,805 --> 00:12:20,639
Yes.
127
00:12:20,706 --> 00:12:22,675
I'll be honest with you. This is boring.
128
00:12:23,309 --> 00:12:25,411
I would never pay
to read something like this.
129
00:12:26,946 --> 00:12:29,482
I don't know what she said,
but you have to stop blaming her.
130
00:12:30,382 --> 00:12:32,118
You drew this, not her.
131
00:12:33,319 --> 00:12:36,122
If you keep lying to yourself,
you'll regret it one day.
132
00:12:48,968 --> 00:12:51,737
That's your last glass of sake
for tonight.
133
00:12:53,839 --> 00:12:55,908
He hasn't contacted me since then.
134
00:12:57,209 --> 00:12:58,844
He probably lost his will to draw.
135
00:13:02,581 --> 00:13:05,885
Well, it doesn't matter.
I've gotten used to being let down.
136
00:13:07,253 --> 00:13:09,522
You still look upset to me.
137
00:13:13,626 --> 00:13:14,927
After you make your debut,
138
00:13:15,027 --> 00:13:18,798
you have to try to survive
in this dog-eat-dog industry.
139
00:13:21,033 --> 00:13:23,803
Some actually took their own lives
140
00:13:26,172 --> 00:13:28,774
just because they couldn't come up
with a good story.
141
00:13:36,582 --> 00:13:41,387
Those who have a home to return to
after giving up are the lucky ones.
142
00:13:42,054 --> 00:13:43,622
Are you talking about Tezuka?
143
00:13:46,792 --> 00:13:50,563
Every time I treat a new artist
to your tomato rolls,
144
00:13:50,663 --> 00:13:52,498
they always end up fizzling out.
145
00:13:53,833 --> 00:13:56,869
You're blaming my food now?
146
00:13:58,971 --> 00:14:00,639
I was only joking.
147
00:14:20,793 --> 00:14:21,961
What are you doing?
148
00:14:25,531 --> 00:14:27,132
I can't believe you.
149
00:14:45,351 --> 00:14:46,485
I've had enough.
150
00:14:53,492 --> 00:14:55,361
Why won't you work?
151
00:14:58,831 --> 00:15:00,399
I'm working.
152
00:15:00,799 --> 00:15:02,768
I think about my characters
and story arcs...
153
00:15:02,868 --> 00:15:04,169
Are you stupid?
154
00:15:04,570 --> 00:15:06,672
You don't get a single yen doing that!
155
00:15:09,642 --> 00:15:11,777
I have to create something from nothing.
156
00:15:12,478 --> 00:15:14,914
I'm a creator, not a wage slave!
157
00:15:15,014 --> 00:15:16,949
Get off your high horse.
158
00:15:17,516 --> 00:15:19,385
You're just a dreamer!
159
00:15:33,465 --> 00:15:34,900
I'm done with you.
160
00:16:08,934 --> 00:16:12,204
BIG COMIC ORIGINAL
161
00:16:18,777 --> 00:16:20,145
Hurry up!
162
00:16:25,084 --> 00:16:27,086
-Over there.
-Okay.
163
00:17:04,056 --> 00:17:06,592
Do you like to read manga?
164
00:17:09,895 --> 00:17:11,430
I enjoy drawing it too.
165
00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:16,728
Damn it!
166
00:18:44,890 --> 00:18:48,293
I've decided to quit drawing manga.
167
00:18:50,863 --> 00:18:51,964
I see.
168
00:18:53,665 --> 00:18:56,368
It's your decision to make.
169
00:18:57,903 --> 00:18:59,605
But I'm terrified.
170
00:19:00,772 --> 00:19:04,243
I'm nothing without my manga.
171
00:19:05,744 --> 00:19:07,613
You have it backwards.
172
00:19:11,150 --> 00:19:13,485
You threw everything away.
173
00:19:14,586 --> 00:19:19,057
But manga was the one thing
you could never toss out.
174
00:19:23,862 --> 00:19:24,997
Welcome.
175
00:19:25,097 --> 00:19:27,499
Master, it's been a while.
176
00:19:27,599 --> 00:19:28,734
It's me, Tezuka.
177
00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:29,768
I remember.
178
00:19:29,868 --> 00:19:32,037
-Tomato roll and beer, please.
-Sure.
179
00:19:32,437 --> 00:19:36,175
This is Ms. Yayoi.
We draw manga together now.
180
00:19:36,308 --> 00:19:38,177
-Together?
-Yes.
181
00:19:38,610 --> 00:19:41,680
I worked as a caretaker for the elderly
after returning to my hometown.
182
00:19:42,147 --> 00:19:43,248
That's how we met.
183
00:19:43,749 --> 00:19:48,187
I've been drawing manga as a hobby
since high school.
184
00:19:48,287 --> 00:19:52,057
I wanted to forget all about manga
as soon as possible.
185
00:19:52,157 --> 00:19:53,859
But after talking to Ms. Yayoi,
186
00:19:53,926 --> 00:19:56,195
I realized that I wasn't ready
to give it up.
187
00:20:00,265 --> 00:20:01,700
So we started to draw manga together.
188
00:20:01,934 --> 00:20:04,036
After a string of rejections,
189
00:20:04,336 --> 00:20:06,071
our publisher finally green-lit
our manga series.
190
00:20:06,505 --> 00:20:09,208
Your dream finally came true.
I'm happy for you.
191
00:20:09,741 --> 00:20:10,976
To mark the occasion,
192
00:20:11,076 --> 00:20:14,146
I decided to treat Ms. Yayoi
to your tomato rolls.
193
00:20:14,246 --> 00:20:17,716
I've heard so much
about your tomato rolls from him.
194
00:20:18,083 --> 00:20:19,384
I'll get on with it.
195
00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:25,057
Is your name still Osami Tezuka?
196
00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,830
Oh, sorry.
I should have introduced myself.
197
00:20:32,698 --> 00:20:34,266
I'm a manga artist too.
198
00:20:34,866 --> 00:20:36,602
Oh, really?
199
00:20:37,736 --> 00:20:41,206
I haven't changed my name.
It doesn't bother me anymore.
200
00:20:52,484 --> 00:20:54,620
Well? Do you like it?
201
00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:55,821
I love it!
202
00:20:55,921 --> 00:20:58,090
The tomato tastes sweeter
after you grill it.
203
00:20:58,190 --> 00:21:00,292
-It goes so well with the pork.
-Right?
204
00:21:00,959 --> 00:21:01,793
Master.
205
00:21:02,928 --> 00:21:04,229
For the food.
206
00:21:07,566 --> 00:21:10,168
Thanks for everything.
207
00:21:10,936 --> 00:21:11,870
Anytime.
208
00:21:13,238 --> 00:21:16,275
Take care, Hashimoto.
209
00:21:29,955 --> 00:21:31,556
If you can't take it anymore,
210
00:21:31,657 --> 00:21:33,959
walk away and try something else.
211
00:21:38,797 --> 00:21:43,268
You can always pick up your pen again
when you're ready.
212
00:21:45,003 --> 00:21:46,772
That's how I did it.
213
00:21:49,641 --> 00:21:51,109
Thank you.
214
00:22:23,275 --> 00:22:28,547
He hasn't dropped by
for my tomato rolls since then.
215
00:22:32,984 --> 00:22:35,721
I know you'll be back, Hashimoto.
216
00:22:40,058 --> 00:22:41,993
POKE
217
00:22:42,060 --> 00:22:44,730
PITTER-PATTER
218
00:22:44,796 --> 00:22:48,433
SIZZLE
219
00:23:33,545 --> 00:23:36,415
THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.
220
00:23:36,481 --> 00:23:38,483
Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon