Midnight Diner (Late Night Restaurant / 심야식당 / Simyashikdang)

Around the time that people hurry home after the day ends...

my day begins.

This is all that's on the menu.

Other than that, customers order whatever they want

and I make it for them as long as it's possible.

The restaurant is open from midnight to seven o'clock in the morning.

You may ask, are there people who come to this old, worn-out place?

Well, there are quite a lot.

Perhaps it was due to a high power demand

caused by the prolonged heat wave.

But there was a power outage all of a sudden.

I used ice instead of a refrigerator as an emergency measure.

Perhaps it was because of the heat of the kitchen

but sweat was rolling down immediately.

Right when I was about have ripe and sweet red Chinese plums as a snack

with a refreshing glass of beer to cool off...

she came.

For a second, I thought that if there was a goddess of the night

then perhaps she would look like this.

Do you have refreshing beer?

Yes.

That's a relief.

Oh my, it's a plum.

A Chinese plum.

They're a bit big. Do you want me to cut them for you?

No, it's okay.

I like the juice that fills your mouth when you bite into the fruit.

I see.

The things that were revealed in the moonlight then...

were her white snaggleteeth.

Perhaps it was because of that

but the juice of the Chinese plum that was flowing down from her mouth

seemed like red blood.

A few days later...

We bought ice cream. Have one and then work.

Here.

Come in.

What's wrong?

My teeth ache.

If your teeth ache just because of something like that

then it would be a good idea to go to the dentist's office quickly.

Why is someone who's still in their prime like this already?

I'm still perfectly fine even if I crunch ice.

But, for some reason, I was reluctant to go to the dentist's office.

Here.

Jerky and beer.

I guess your teeth hurt.

You still haven't gone yet?

You'll get into big trouble if you leave that.

If the problem gets worse

you'll have to get a root canal and maybe even get an implant.

Jeez.

In the end, I just couldn't bear it.

So I went to the dentist's office a few days later.

It was a dentist that a customer had told me about before.

Strangely enough, they apparently only specialize in giving treatment at night.

Welcome.

I was very surprised once I stepped into the dental office.

All of the people there were customers from my restaurant.

I'm surprised to see you in a place like this, Master.

I know. It feels different to see you outside of the restaurant.

What are you all doing here?

I crunched too much ice because it was hot.

I indulged in ice cream because of this guy.

Why is that because of me?

You already liked sweet things.

I didn't eat anything special.

Is it because I don't brush my teeth before I go to sleep?

Could there be a time that's more terrifying

than waiting for pain that's soon to come?

Please sit here.

I was surprised once more in the examination room.

Fancy meeting you here.

Yes.

Please open your mouth.

All of the snacks to be eaten with the drinks that night were soft foods.

Here.

Soft tofu.

Steamed egg.

That dentist from before was cool.

I wonder if she's married.

I'm not sure.

She probably is.

She's pretty, earns a lot of money, and she's a dentist.

So what?

There's also me, who's good-looking, is a well-paid Oriental medicine doctor

and single.

I guess that's true.

Should I have some hope?

Don't.

You might end up getting ruined.

That dentist almost got married two times before.

But, apparently, both of them died not too long before the wedding.

How?

One of them slipped while he was on the mountain.

The other one fell ill all of a sudden after they even held an engagement party

and was sick for a long time until he died.

Jeez.

Where do you pick up those kinds of stories?

You trying living in this neighborhood for a quarter of a century too.

You'll hear all sorts of rumors.

I'm only saying this here...

but there are also rumors that the dentist could be the cause.

They say that dentist isn't a human, but a vampire.

Don't her snaggleteeth make her seem like it?

Be careful so you don't get bitten.

Vampires come out everywhere on television these days.

So, you're just saying that after watching television, aren't you?

Just say that she was after their fortune or a large life insurance sum.

That sounds more convincing.

She would have to be married to them and on their family register

if we want to talk about insurance money.

You're being like that because you watch that 'We Want to Know That' show too much.

Even if she is a vampire, if she's that much of a beauty

I would like it if she sucked my blood once.

- Yeah, that's true. - Hey.

I had to go to the dentist's office a few more times after that too.

Welcome.

It was just her that day.

- The nurse went on vacation. - I see.

Come in.

Perhaps it was because of what I had heard before

but I had strange thoughts in spite of myself that day.

I thought that when a vampire bites your neck...

it would feel like this.

Of course, fortunately, I did come out alive.

Aren't you scared being by yourself?

It's become a habit, so I'm okay.

But, why do you only open at night?

Why do you only open at night, Master?

I do it for the same reason as you.

I always liked the nighttime too

but I've always thought...