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.

HANAZONO FIFTH STREET

Order whatever you like. I'll make it if I have the ingredients.

Never mind, I'll take the pork miso soup combo.

Sure.

Would you mind if I take a photo? It's for my blog.

Blog?

It's like a diary you write on your computer.

I don't mind.

But don't promote my diner, please.

-You're so weird. -How so?

Most people only let me take photos if I agree to promote them.

Is that how it works?

Here you go.

I'm trying to break into showbiz.

I work part-time at a family restaurant to support myself.

I see. Is that why you have a blog?

I figured it would help boost my popularity.

He should be here any minute now.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

-Egg sandwich, please. -Sure.

I made ham and cucumber sandwiches too, for a little variety.

Thanks.

Would you like some?

What? Are you sure?

Thanks.

Do I have something on my face?

Oh, sorry. You look like you really enjoy it.

All the men there were total losers.

What a waste of time. I should have stayed home to watch TV.

It's false advertising, that's what it is.

Why are they so upset?

They went to a matchmaking party.

Here you go. Beer and macaroni salad.

Why is Ms. Rumi here? Didn't she go back to her hometown?

Her mother got better.

Master, ochazuke.

-Ochazuke. -Ochazuke.

Sure.

They were a lot less noisy when there were only two of them.

I know.

You two.

-Yes? -Yes?

Man up and stop whispering like schoolgirls.

Men are so petty and small-minded.

And they won't stop boasting about themselves.

Like, can't they shut up about themselves for a second?

Men who aren't already married have serious issues.

They're the leftovers no one wants.

-Right? -Right?

Like you're one to talk.

Ladies, if I may be so bold to ask,

what kind of man are you looking for?

I want a serious, respectable man.

A man of few words. Maybe even a little awkward.

Popular with the ladies, but devoted to his one true love.

-Like Ken Takakura? -Exactly!

His annual income should be over ten million yen.

He has to live in a mansion with a garden in Setagaya.

He can't be the eldest son. We'd have to look after his parents.

Yes, that would be a pain.

-Right? -Right?

-How is that Ken Takakura? -He should have a villa overseas.

And then, about a week later...

Egg sandwich, please.

Sure.

I got a gig as a pinup girl after I went home the other day.

It's just a small gig, but it's still something.

The egg sandwich brought me luck, so I thought I'd try it again.

It's just an egg sandwich.

That guy who was here the other day, what does he do?

Why don't you ask him? He should be here soon.

What? Again?

Yes. He comes by every day.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Thanks for the egg sandwich the other day.

It was nothing.

It's my turn to treat you. Please take one.

Thanks.

He stays at the newspaper agency and works for them as a paperboy.

He goes to college during the day.

His parents' business isn't doing so well.

I see.

On his days off, he brings bread here instead of the daily paper.

Like the other day.

I had no idea. I should have given him all my sandwiches.

He's probably hungry.

Don't worry. When he gets back to the delivery center,

they'll give him his breakfast.

They make a good couple, don't they?

It makes you want to believe in love again.

You've seen them?

She comes here whenever it's time for him to deliver the papers.

She gives him half of her egg sandwiches,

and he takes them with a shy smile on his face.

Such sweet, innocent love.

In other words, you've been drinking your nights away, haven't you?

Right, Master?

Now that you mention it, yes, he has.

Come on, they found love in the Midnight Diner. No, the Dawn Diner.

Who cares about my drinking problem?

So he's a newspaper scholarship student.

Most college students have it easy these days.

He's really something.

Do you have any idea what it's like?

MAINICHI SHINBUN

You have to get ready to work around three every morning.

By 3:30 a.m., you have to start delivering the papers.

By the time you're done, it's already 6:30 a.m.

You clean up and hurry to your first class of the day.

You try to stay awake in class.

Once classes are over, it's time to deliver the evening paper.

You can't go drinking with your classmates.

Nakajima, let's go celebrate!

Sorry, maybe next time.

So you don't have any friends.

By the time you're done, it's past 6:30 in the evening.

But there's no time to rest.

You have to fold the pamphlets into tomorrow's papers.

After that, it's time to study.

Then you wake up and deliver the morning papers. It never ends.

It's a tough life.

Why do you know so much about it, Mr. Kanemoto?

I did the exact same thing.

Really? I'd never have guessed.

But I started drinking,

dropped out of college, and lost the scholarship.

This is why alcohol is bad for you.

Let's walk over there.

Okay.

Sorry.

Don't be.

I shouldn't have called you and kept you on the phone late last night.

You said you wanted to talk to me in person.

What is it?

How do you feel about me?

I...

I like you, Nakajima.

I...

Excuse me.

You're Risa Aikawa, right?

-That's me. -Score!

I'm a fan.

Thank you.

Wow, I can't believe this!

-I'm rooting for you. -Thank you.

-Aim for the stars! -I will, thank you.

-I'm rooting for you! -Thank you.

-I can't believe she's here! -Right?

-We're so lucky! -Super lucky!

You haven't answered my question.

Our lives are too different.

She's been on a lot of TV shows lately.

Apparently.

Don't worry.

No matter how busy she gets, they'll get together, I know it.

Don't be naive.

There they go again.

She's a famous celebrity, he's a poor scholarship student.

Money isn't the only issue here. She's out of his league.

Life is like...

the Arisu River. Some are rich, some are poor.

Don't underestimate life.

Like Hepburn and Gregory Peck.

They broke up in the end too.

What?

You've never seen Roman Holiday?

How ignorant can you be?

But things worked out for the couple in Notting Hill.

Pretty Woman too.

Don't make me laugh.

They haven't even kissed, right?

Well, no, I don't think so.

Platonic love never works out.

It's a universal rule.

Yes, but still...

Your heart can't take it.

It's a blow to your ego

to know that the person you love is out of your league.

I wasn't speaking from personal experience.

What are you looking at?

Nothing.

For Scene 19, after the dinner scene,

you have to pretend you're sending a text message on your phone.

Okay,

SORRY ABOUT THE OTHER DAY. DO YOU WANT TO MEET AGAIN?

DISCARD MESSAGE DRAFT?

CHECKING FOR NEW MESSAGES

NO NEW MESSAGES

DINER

See? We told you this would happen.

This is why you can never trust women.

Don't be a sore loser. Just admit you were wrong.

Thanks.

You're here earlier than usual.

There won't be any newspapers tomorrow.

All right, I've got you. Let's drink the night away.

Cheer up. Who needs women, right?

Right.

-Drink up. -Thanks.

Hey.

What do you want? Can't you let us drown our sorrows in peace?

I wasn't talking to you.

Hey, you.

You're a spineless wimp.

You lost her to another man because you're a petty coward.

If you really love her, go get her back.

Where are your balls? Are you even a man?

WHERE ARE YOU?

I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING

I'M STILL AT THE STUDIO

I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU TOO

Hey, how is it going?

Risa's engaged to that CEO, right? That's a surprise.

I thought they were just fooling around.

I was surprised too.

It turns out they were serious.

She was on her way to stardom. Why did she throw it all away?

Don't be so pessimistic.

Risa, time to go.

We have to get going. It's an early day tomorrow.

There we go.

DINER

Congratulations.

Thanks.

Egg sandwich?

Thanks.

This reminds me of the first time we met.

Hello?

Yes, I'll be right there.

Thanks for the food.

I have to go now.

Okay.

Goodbye.

Master.

Yes?

I know I'll sound petty when I say this, but...

I guess women are only after money.

She came here alone a while back.

The CEO proposed to you?

Are you going to say yes?

I've never met that CEO. I don't know what he's like.

I have to side with Nakajima here.

He's a good lad.

I know.

I know it, but...

It's too late for me and Nakajima.

Things can never be the same between us.

When Nakajima told me we live in different worlds,

I wanted to tell him he was wrong.

I knew I had to say something,

but I couldn't find the words.

That was when I met the CEO.

He was nice, but I wasn't in love with him.

I told him about Nakajima and asked him for his advice.

What did he say?

He told me to agonize over it.

He said, "If you tear your hair out but still don't have an answer,

then it's out of your hands."

He sounds like an oddball.

My thoughts exactly.

But his advice made me feel better.

I realized then

that I didn't have to pretend to be someone else when I'm with him.

The CEO sounds like a nice man.

I'm just a loser.

She came to say goodbye.

She didn't have to, but she did it anyway.

You should be honored that she fell in love with you.

You loved her too, didn't you?

Don't insult her by saying you didn't deserve her.

MAINICHI SHINBUN

Here, let me help.

Life isn't like the movies. Sometimes you don't get a happy ending.

Nakajima still delivers the papers every day.

But he hasn't had egg sandwiches since then.

TO BE CONTINUED

First, dice the boiled eggs.

Mayonnaise goes well with everything.

But don't go overboard with it,

or the mayonnaise will overpower the taste of eggs.

Keep the mayonnaise to a minimum,

and add salt and pepper to round out the flavors.

Master.

I brought my own bread.

Until next time.

Good night.

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon