1.  When people finish their day
and hurry home,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
2.  my day starts.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
3.  My diner is open from midnight
to 7:00 in the morning.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
4.  They call it "Midnight Diner."Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
5.  Do I even have customers?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
6.  More than you would expect.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
7.  TOKYO STORIESCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
8.  CHICKEN FRIED RICECopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
9.  ON PATROLCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
10.  This is still here, not sold?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
11.  I don't care if he's sold or not.
I want him to stay now.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
12.  You feel attached to him.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
13.  Yes, I know it's only junk.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
14.  Oh, it's about time.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
15.  - Thank you.
- Okay.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
16.  Here you are.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
17.  Exact amount.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
18.  What's that?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
19.  This?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
20.  It's like a merry-go-round.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
21.  He is lonely on his own, though.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
22.  This won't sell, either.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
23.  It's just walking the same spot
again and again.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
24.  Like our life.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
25.  Be lost in thought later.
Let's get back to work.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
26.  You're right. See you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
27.  Thank you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
28.  I confirm the stolen wallet is in the bag.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
29.  Yes, I will take him to Headquarters.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
30.  Sorry to have bothered you, everyone.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
31.  Stealing? What did this man steal?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
32.  He has repeatedly stolen bags
at midnight movie theaters.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
33.  A habitual offender.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
34.  I see.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
35.  Because the movie theater is dark.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
36.  Sometimes I was so into the movie,
I forgot to steal, though.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
37.  For instance, recently—Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
38.  I'll listen to your film reviews
at the office.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
39.  Yes.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
40.  Thank you. We may need to ask you
more questions later.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
41.  Sure.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
42.  So, can I order whatever I'd like here?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
43.  If I have enough ingredients.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
44.  I see.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
45.  It sounds like customers are given
more choices,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
46.  but decisions are actually led
by the diner.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
47.  What an interesting strategy.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
48.  What's the strategy?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
49.  Don't know.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
50.  Can you make chicken rice?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
51.  Sure.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
52.  I can.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
53.  Also a beer, please.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
54.  Okay.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
55.  Here you go.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
56.  Thank you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
57.  How's it?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
58.  Delicious!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
59.  My name is Akai.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
60.  That's why you wear red?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
61.  Funny. You even order red-colored food.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
62.  The color red gives you power.
Some people wear red underwear, you know.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
63.  Don't you like peas?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
64.  I didn't when I was a kid.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
65.  But now...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
66.  These days, I can't find any restaurant
that serves this old-style chicken rice.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
67.  Since then,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
68.  it seems he liked my chicken rice,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
69.  and he's been coming here sometimes.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
70.  Mr. Momi, this...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
71.  It's Shinichiro Akai indeed.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
72.  Is he that famous?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
73.  He's a super famous game creator.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
74.  Just the video games, right?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
75.  The game he created, Door to Door,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
76.  commonly known as D to D series,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
77.  is a very popular one
and is played worldwide.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
78.  Who are you?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
79.  Mr. Momi is my game master.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
80.  Master means my teacher
not as in diner's owner!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
81.  Here, another one.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
82.  Thanks.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
83.  Why did he leave his business card?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
84.  He said he's been asked to go on TV.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
85.  They will make a documentary program
about him.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
86.  He asked me if it could be shot here, too.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
87.  What? That's amazing!
Make sure you accept that!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
88.  Anyway, I think he'd better stop wearing
those red suits.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
89.  Even his name is Akai.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
90.  Master, I think a man who can only make
silly jokes like thatCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
91.  needs a walkthrough manual of life.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
92.  Life, it's not like a game.
You can't reset it.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
93.  Mr. Momi, you're so deep.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
94.  We'll frame the paper lantern and...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
95.  That's how they started shooting
a documentary here.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
96.  Master.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
97.  Please get ready to cook.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
98.  Thank you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
99.  Like this?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
100.  Okay.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
101.  Mr. Akai, let's start.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
102.  Sure.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
103.  Set...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
104.  Three, two...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
105.  Excuse me.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
106.  I've finished with the adjustments
you asked me to do yesterday.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
107.  Quick work. Can I see it now?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
108.  Of course.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
109.  I'm happy with the movement of fingers,
but not the neck.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
110.  The neck is important.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
111.  It won't be dynamic enough
if it doesn't move like this.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
112.  It won't be dynamic enough
if it doesn't move like this.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
113.  It was when he was in high school
when Akai encountered video games.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
114.  He says it was a means to escape reality.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
115.  My husband used to be a barkeep.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
116.  But he passed away five years ago.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
117.  I have no children,
and as long as I don't employ anyone,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
118.  I can enjoy working here.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
119.  I see.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
120.  I'd started it just before
the Showa era ended.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
121.  - It's over 30 years, then?
- Yes.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
122.  Congratulations!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
123.  Thank you!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
124.  Here, come on.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
125.  Thank you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
126.  I heard you have fond memories
about chicken rice.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
127.  When I was little, this was our main dish
for celebrations, like my birthday.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
128.  Akai grew up in an orphanage.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
129.  Shinichiro Akai is not his real name.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
130.  The name was given to him
by the head of the orphanage.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
131.  This photo was taken
after he was brought to...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
132.  - Today's story is quite somber, isn't it?
- Yes.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
133.  You can hear
that kind of story everywhere.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
134.  That was hard for me
as I can't change my past.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
135.  That's why I decided to overwrite my life,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
136.  - and stop worrying about who I am.
- Ma'am.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
137.  - Ma'am.
- What?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
138.  Can I have whiskey and water?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
139.  Sure.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
140.  I, your mother...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
141.  I wanted to see you so much, Shin.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
142.  On the program, I saidCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
143.  that's how I remembered
my mother called me.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
144.  That's why you call me that, right?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
145.  Don't be silly.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
146.  You are my Shin.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
147.  Can you take a DNA test?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
148.  You're the son of your father's ex-wife,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
149.  so I'm not your biological mother.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
150.  Many women turned up
and claimed to be his mom?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
151.  After watching Mr. Akai's documentary?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
152.  He talked about it, laughing,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
153.  but he hasn't been here for a while.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
154.  I can see how depressed he must be,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
155.  because he knows
all they want is his money.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
156.  Master looks depressed as well.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
157.  Why?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
158.  What? Well...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
159.  He was so worried about
running out of ingredients,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
160.  thinking many viewers would rush in here
after the documentary.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
161.  But it didn't happen.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
162.  Master! We are here to support you!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
163.  It turned out to be
nothing to worry about.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
164.  It was a good thing in the end, right?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
165.  - He expected more customers?
- Of course.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
166.  Otherwise, he wouldn't say "in the end."Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
167.  Welcome.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
168.  I watched the program the other day—Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
169.  Wow!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
170.  Master, see? It attracted a customer!Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
171.  Yeah.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
172.  Do you play video games?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
173.  No way. I'm here for his chicken rice.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
174.  Could I have a chicken rice, please?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
175.  It looked so delicious on TV.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
176.  Sure.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
177.  Is this the game?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
178.  Right. It'll be finally on sale.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
179.  A long time ago,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
180.  I used to make this dish often.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
181.  For your children?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
182.  Yes.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
183.  Excuse me...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
184.  The man who was interviewed...
Does he come here?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
185.  He must be very busy these days.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
186.  I haven't seen him recently.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
187.  I see.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
188.  I'll check the schedule now.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
189.  We don't have time for this.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
190.  You seem so exhausted.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
191.  Because of my age, perhaps.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
192.  I feel exhausted
after working through the night.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
193.  She came here after watching the programCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
194.  because the chicken rice looked good.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
195.  Is that so? I like it very much, too.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
196.  I'm so sorry...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
197.  Shin.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
198.  Your father had...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
199.  a wife...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
200.  and a child.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
201.  He said I could have the babyCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
202.  but he couldn't officially
acknowledge you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
203.  He left me in the end.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
204.  I tried my best to raise you alone...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
205.  But I had no skills to get a job,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
206.  and it was too much to take
for a 20-year-old girl.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
207.  My parents cut ties with me.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
208.  I didn't have anyone to talk to.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
209.  I thought about killing both of us.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
210.  How selfish.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
211.  Please don't get me wrong.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
212.  I didn't say that,
thinking you're my mother.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
213.  Then...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
214.  I thought we should have good memories
before we die...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
215.  and we went to an amusement park.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
216.  When I was looking at your happy face...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
217.  I felt scared to take your life with me.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
218.  You said, "I want to get on that one."Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
219.  I left you there and ran away.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
220.  It was on a horse of a merry-go-round.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
221.  In the end,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
222.  you couldn't kill yourself.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
223.  That's disgusting.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
224.  I don't have a mother.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
225.  She can't call herself a mother, either,
because she abandoned me.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
226.  You're right.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
227.  I have no rights to be your mother
after all these years.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
228.  Red color suits you very much,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
229.  Shinichi.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
230.  I could survive without having parents...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
231.  I believed so.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
232.  Why should I change that now?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
233.  Here you go.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
234.  Is this...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
235.  "He refused to eat peas,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
236.  but he started eating them
when I put peas like this."Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
237.  Your mother told me so.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
238.  That woman...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
239.  She called me Shinichi.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
240.  Is that your real name?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
241.  Yes.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
242.  I've been told...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
243.  that only a note with my real nameCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
244.  was in my pocket when I was found.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
245.  In addition...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
246.  the fact that I was found
at the merry-go-round...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
247.  Only a handful of people know that.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
248.  She knew she was not
in a position to see you,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
249.  but she came here to do so, I guess?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
250.  For the last two weeks...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
251.  she came in every day,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
252.  thinking you would turn up any minute.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
253.  She had been waiting for you,
feeling scared.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
254.  When I was rescued,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
255.  I was wearing a red jacket.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
256.  I kept wearingCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
257.  the red jacket...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
258.  until it was threadbare.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
259.  Because I wanted her to find me.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
260.  I wanted my mother to find me...Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
261.  for a very long time.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
262.  A while later,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
263.  Mr. Akai's new game was released.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
264.  See you.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
265.  It was delicious.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
266.  Mr. Momi,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
267.  you look exhausted.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
268.  So do you.
You haven't had much sleep, have you?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
269.  They're so hooked on the game,
without having enough sleep every night.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
270.  It takes away my time.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
271.  Instead of getting angry
about my time being taken away,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
272.  I'd like to thank it.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
273.  Talk about a crazy contradiction.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
274.  I want to tell him about this feeling.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
275.  Do you think Mr. Akai is coming here?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
276.  Who knows.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
277.  It seems he's found another place
that serves better chicken rice.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
278.  Welcome.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
279.  Here is the menu.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
280.  Beer and a chicken rice, please.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
281.  Sure.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
282.  No worries. I'll do it myself.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
283.  I'm starving.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
284.  Okay.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
285.  Wait a minute.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
286.  RAMENCopy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
287.  A parent and a child, who lived apart
for several decades,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
288.  they met again at Midnight Diner.
They had some issues at first,Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
289.  but I heard they made amends.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
290.  That kind of thing happens at his place.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
291.  People can reconcile.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
292.  Isn't that nice once in a while?Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
293.  Right.Copy !req 
			
		
	
		
			
294.  THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTIONCopy !req