My hectic schedule finally settled, I let out a sigh of relief. When my mind has room to breathe, there's a particular restaurant I always feel drawn to. It's a quiet bistro, tucked away down a side street from the main road, open late into the night. I remember hesitating for a moment when I first went, deterred by the retro exterior with no sign, but as I cautiously pushed the door open and peeked inside,
I was immediately put at ease by the chef's warm smile.

The interior has only ten counter seats, with classical music playing at a subtle volume. The chef is the only one behind the open kitchen counter, managing both cooking and service single-handedly. Once seated, a menu with enticing descriptions is presented. Everything looks so delicious, I find myself in a delightful dilemma, wanting to try this and that. After a struggle to consult my stomach, I make my choices, and my usual routine is to sip some wine and simply drift for a while.


"Midnight Diner," located in a corner of the neon-lit entertainment district, is open from around midnight to 7 AM. The menu posted at the restaurant only lists pork miso soup set, beer, sake, and shochu. Otherwise, customers order freely, and the master makes whatever he can – a small eatery with this operating policy.

The dishes featured here, such as "Bright Red Octopus Sausages," "Yesterday's Curry," "Sweet Rolled Omelet," and "Pork Cutlet," are nothing special, but rather taste familiar and nostalgic. They look incredibly delicious. Take "Yesterday's Curry," for example. The slightly hardened yesterday's curry from the refrigerator is served over piping hot rice, eaten while it "melts"... Just imagining it makes it sound so delicious. My stomach rumbles involuntarily.


In this way, each episode unfolds with a featured dish and the drama of the customer who ordered it. These stories are also deeply moving each time! The interactions between the food, the master, and the customers with their own reasons for gathering at "Midnight Diner" are truly touching.

It's December, and the cold is truly setting in. "Midnight Diner" warms the heart gently, and its flavors deeply touch the soul. It's a highly recommended book.
Finally, I must announce that the serialization "A Moment's Respite" will be taking a break. This was my first writing serialization, and though it was a challenge fraught with anxiety, it was a year and a half filled with new discoveries each month, and a time that reaffirmed my love for books. Thank you so much to everyone who has read it up until now. I will continue to find my respite in books.