Ep 5. Vermicelli Salad

In the fifth episode of the third season of Midnight Diner, titled "Vermicelli Salad," we are introduced to a new customer of the diner, Miki. Miki is a young woman who has recently left her hometown in the countryside to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer in Tokyo. However, she is struggling to make ends meet and is feeling the pressures of city life.

Upon arriving at the diner, Miki asks the master to prepare her favorite dish from her hometown - vermicelli salad. The master happily agrees and begins to prepare the dish. As he does so, we see flashbacks of Miki's life in her hometown - her closeness with her grandmother and her love for dancing in the open fields.

As Miki enjoys her vermicelli salad, she begins to open up to the master about her struggles in the big city. He listens attentively and offers her some sage advice, urging her to not lose sight of her dreams and to continue to work hard towards them.

We also see other regulars of the diner, including a group of salarymen and a young couple, who are all dealing with their own personal issues. The master serves them all with his usual care and grace, offering them not just food but also a listening ear and kind words.

Throughout the episode, we see the power of food to evoke memories and emotions, and the importance of human connection in our lives. As the episode comes to a close, Miki leaves the diner with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, grateful for the comfort and support she found there.

Overall, "Vermicelli Salad" is a heartwarming and poignant episode that perfectly captures the essence of Midnight Diner - a place where people from all walks of life come together to share a meal and find solace in each other's company.