It’s New Year’s Eve. The regulars all come by to ring in the new year with Master’s soba noodles. The diner is always a special place for them.

Widowed singer Misao Kashima makes a rare visit to eat minced meat cutlets. Misao has been unable to perform on stage ever since she lost her husband.

”Do you have sautéed burdock?” asks stately Chizuru Ichikawa as she enters the diner. She is Gen’s former high school teacher, club adviser, and crush.

Miho and Sayuri, in charge of their elementary school reunion, order vermicelli salad. The two recall their old schoolmate who loved the dish.

The weather is getting cooler so Master prepares extra stuffed cabbage to the regular customers’ delight. Only the stripper Marilyn feels differently.

Detectives Noguchi and Izumi always disagree. He wants “liver and chives”, she wants “chives and liver”. She tells Master she wants a new partner.

On Saturday mornings, Yoshio and wife Mizue come to eat clam soup. People refer to them as a close couple. Yoshio is actually Mizue’s third husband.

Comic editor Uno brings up-and-coming award-winning artist Hashimoto to eat Master’s pork-wrapped tomatoes. He lives with a woman and writes comics.

Private detectives Kei and Mamoru are drawn to the aroma of Master’s simmered taro and squid. They spend the night together after leaving the diner.

Regular Komichi falls for Kasumi, whose past is unknown. She asks Master to make pickled ginger tempura, a taste familiar to people from Osaka.