Episode 5

## Broadcast Chronology

**Children's Fortress** (こどもたちの砦 *Kodomo-tachi no Toride*) is the fifth episode in the *Sabikui Bisco* television anime series which was broadcasted on February 7, 2022.

## Plot

### Synopsis

Bisco and Milo make their way through the expanse of Calvero Shellsand Sea toward the northeastern part of the country, and on their way they arrive at a desolate town built out of "Tetsujin", the rumored weapon that destroyed Tokyo. They find out this little settlement, where only children live without adults, is constantly being threatened by a deadly species of fish known as the Flying Fugu. Meanwhile, Pawoo, who is in pursuit of the two, meets a mysterious couple along the way.

### Summary

Looking for Bisco and Milo, Pawoo reaches Shimotsuka, but gets a flat tire. He then hears a man asking for help.

Nuts believes that Bisco and Milo are kidnappers send by Kurokawa. Bisco explains they are headed towards Akita, but Nuts doesn't believe anyone heading north would pass through the Calvero Shellsand Sea, where water and food are scarce. Bisco states they have their reasons and that he is also willing to buy food from them. Nuts doesn't believe they have money. Having no choice, Bisco reveals a wanted poster of himself and states that if they bring him alive to Imihama, they will get 800,000-sol reward. The children then restrain Bisco and Milo, and take them to their town, where Nuts promises they will receive food and water until they hand them over the authorities. Bisco finds their Tetsujin Town to look strange and they explains its build out of Tetsujin that landed there after the explosion.

Pawoo sees a dead man and then sees another falling from a building. As she looks up, she sees a couple about to be eaten by a giant spider and jumps in to kill the spider. After thanking her and seeing her bike flat tire, the man explains that it was a trap set from bandits, who used this town as base. He then invites Pawoo to their place, where they can fix the tire.

Nuts leaves Plum to look after Milo, while they restrain Bisco. Plum then cooks a meal for Milo, who ends up enjoying it. Milo notices that there are no adults in town and that everyone is armed and Plum explains that each winter they are attacked by flying blowfish and several people are eaten each year. Milo notices something on Plum's arm, who states everyone has it and its Rusting according to Imihama army. As the medicine is expensive, all the adults left to earn money. Milo wonders what Kurokawa is doing, but tells Plum that this isn't Rusting disease.

At the couples place, they explains that the town suffered an mass outbreak of Rusting and was wiped out. The man blames a Mushroom Keeper, who came to town and at first used mushrooms to treat illnesses. At first, it worked, but soon people started dying and they saw that all dead were covered in Rust. The remaining survivors ran, but eventually only the couple remained. The Mushroom Keeper found them and thanked them, stating the experiment was worthwhile. Pawoo gets convinced even more that the Mushroom Keepers are spreading Rust.

Bisco receives some food and after eating it, he asks for more, but the kids refuse. He asks about a harpoon on the wall and Nuts explains it belonged to his father, who was chief on the town, but stood up against Imihama and died. Bisco then wishes to have it, since there is no point in staying on the wall, but that only annoys Nuts.

Pawoo fixes her tire and decides to go look around. She enters a tunnel and sees dead bodies watching TV. She then overhears the couple talking with the man asking if Pawoo drank her poisoned tea and the woman confirms her cup was empty. The two then wonder on what to turn Pawoo into. Pawoo then reveals herself, stating they must have been the bandits and praying on people. As they confirm and attempt to attack Pawoo, she reveals she wasn't stupid enough to drink tea that could have been poisoned. As the couple runs, Pawoo follows them outside the tunnel. The couple then state they won't be able to defeat Pawoo and they knew a day like this would come. The two of them could survive in the shelter they made and blow the entrance, wishing to be left alone inside and that they won't bother anyone else.

The children call Nuts, telling him that Milo had healed them all. Nuts leaves Kousuke to look after Bisco and heads down to them. While Kousuke looks at a map, Bisco recognizes its the train route map and how he used a subway passage. Kousuke gets excited and explains that when he was young, a Mushroom Keeper saved his life, and gives the map to Bisco as his father always wanted to repay the Mushroom Keepers. Kousuke no longer needs it, as he had memorized it all. Kousuke then decides to go and pee, asking Bisco to not escape. Laughing, Bisco easily breaks free from his chains.

Milo heals Nuts, telling him that it wasn't Rusting, but simple case of shellskin and anyone will the smallest amount of medical knowledge could heal it. The kids with to repay Milo and Nuts asks him what he wants. Milo then states he wants his partner, but Nuts refuses, stating they need to money to get weapons and fight off the flying blowfish. Suddenly, the blowfish attack in mid-summer, due to abnormal weather which meant to less food for them. The kids start fighting the fish, but are unable to do anything. As one of them catches Kousuke, Bisco jumps on it and splits it in two using the harpoon. He then gives the harpoon to Nuts, telling him that this is how he should use it. Nuts wonders how he escaped and Bisco explains that the chains and bars were rusted and no challenge for him. Bisco tells Kousuke that the map he gave him is defective as there are no furigana. Kousuke then realizes that Bisco can't read kanji. Bisco then offers him a trade, he will fire an arrow for every station he can name top to bottom order. Kousuke then starts naming the stations and Bisco shooting the fish, growing mushrooms on them and taking them down. Bisco then jumps down and calls Actagawa and Milo. Plum asks Milo to stay, as they need him, but Milo states she is more needed here than him. She wonders if they will meet again and Milo states she will meet someone even greater someday. Nuts then throws his harpoon at Bisco, but acts like he wasn't giving it to him, but trying to kill him.

Kurokawa finds traces of Jabi and realizes he is alive. His men return, stating they couldn't find him in the tunnels. Kurokawa then snaps his fingers and all of his men kneel, except one. Kurokawa then states that experienced hunters don't run when chased, but try to catch their foe off-guard and outmaneuver them. He then removes rabbit mask and sees Jabi.

## Appearance

### Characters

* Major characters in order of appearance
	+ Pawoo Nekoyanagi
	+ Bisco Akaboshi
	+ Milo Nekoyanagi
	+ Actagawa
	+ Jabi
* Supporting characters in order of appearance
	+ Nuts
	+ Plum
	+ Kousuke
	+ Shou-chan
	+ Ecchan

### Locations

* Japan
	+ Calvaro Shellsand Sea

## Notes

### Episode Staff

* **Director**: Takahiro Ohno, Takayuki Kuriyama
* **Screenplay**: Yutaka Yasunaga
* **Storyboards**: Atsushi Ikariya
* **Animation Directors**: Ai Asari, Norie Ikawa