The Food Diary of Miss Maid Episode 5: Soft Serve / Plum Wine / Barley Tea / Crepe / Raw Egg Over Rice

Suzume Tachibana, a self-proclaimed maid from a grand English estate, now finds herself in a small Japanese apartment. She cleans with diligence, admiring her uniform, a silent testament to her pride despite changed circumstances. Her bubbly personality shines as she answers a retro telephone, then heads out with a determined smile. This move is temporary, a year-long interlude in a foreign land.

Inside her apartment, Suzume consults a 'Chun Guide,' seeking June's cultural highlights. The mention of hydrangeas, beautiful in the rain, draws her outside with a clear umbrella and a hum. The rain, however, ceases, revealing a glimpse of blue sky through the clearing clouds. She spots a banner, an invitation to seasonal treats.

Suzume discovers a shop selling hydrangea-flavored soft serve and eagerly buys a purple cone. Its tart sweetness delights her, like blueberries, a taste confirmed by Chun, the bird-like narrator. Chun clarifies that real hydrangeas are toxic, their namesake treats merely imitations. Undeterred, Suzume relishes the snack, eventually finding a park filled with actual hydrangeas.

As Suzume admires the real flowers, Chun explains that soil acidity dictates a hydrangea's color. Then, a chilling urban legend is introduced: blue hydrangeas supposedly grow over buried bodies. Suzume's expression shifts from fascination to horror, her imagination conjuring grim images. Her peaceful afternoon is shattered by this morbid tale.

Suzume joins Grandma in the traditional art of making plum wine, or Umeshu. She carefully cleans green plums, removing stems and drying them meticulously. Grandma layers the fruit with rock sugar in a glass jar, a process Suzume finds fascinating. White liquor is added, and the jar is sealed, its contents awaiting a distant future.

Ricotta Fresca arrives, tired from the summer heat, to find the plum wine making complete. Grandma reveals the Umeshu needs six months to mature, a fact that disappoints Suzume. To ease their waiting, Grandma produces a jar of last year's vintage. The three settle down, ready to taste the fruit of prior patience.

Grandma serves the aged plum wine to Ricotta, who praises its deep flavor. Suzume, underage, receives a refreshing plum syrup soda, perfectly content with her bubbly drink. Chun provides historical context, noting plum wine's medicinal past. They enjoy their drinks, and Ricotta blushes when Suzume mentions sharing biscuits earlier, hinting at their quiet connection. Grandma then suggests the wine can last a decade or more.

Peak summer descends, forcing Suzume to navigate errands under a searing sun. Cicadas scream, emphasizing the oppressive heat, as she walks past lush gardens. She finds refuge on a shaded park bench, grateful for a cool spot. From her bag, she produces a thermos, pouring herself a cup of cold barley tea. Chun explains its hydrating properties, and Suzume finds quiet solace in the chilled drink.

At school, Endo Sora anxiously seeks advice from Yujiro on how to approach Suzume. Yujiro's playful teasing contrasts with Sora's genuine nervousness. Later, at the train station, Sora checks his phone repeatedly, his face flushed with a mixture of heat and apprehension. His desire to speak with her is palpable, a silent struggle against his own diffidence.

Suzume finds Sora at the station, approaching him to thank him for a previous kindness. Sora, flustered, manages an awkward compliment about her uniform. Noticing his discomfort and a nearby crepe stand, Suzume suggests they get a snack. They watch the chef's precise movements, then enjoy their strawberry and chocolate crepes. Over the sweet treat, Suzume finally introduces herself, and Sora reciprocates, a small but significant moment of connection.

Back home, Suzume prepares Tamago Kake Gohan, cracking a fresh egg into a bowl and whisking it with soy sauce. A tabby cat watches intently through the screen door, drawn by the activity. Chun provides a quick history of the dish, highlighting its practicality. Suzume pours the golden egg over hot rice, her eyes alight with anticipation.

On a clear afternoon, Suzume airs her futon on the balcony, enjoying the sun-warmed fabric. She leans against it, finding the fluffiness irresistible, and soon drifts into an unintended nap. She awakens abruptly to darkness, stars in the sky. Horror dawns as she realizes she has slept through the evening, missing the deli's closing time. Her dramatic, tearful wail of hunger is followed by a cheerful, energetic message to viewers, encouraging healthy summer eating.