Anyway, Himiko is unconscious and has a nightmare about the Fat Guy. Before it gets too graphic, she wakes up and finds herself in Sakamoto’s arms. She wants to fight back but is finding it difficult after being effected by the stun gun. However, she does reveal a Timer bomb in her skirt. Accepting her fate, she arms the bomb. However, Sakamoto saves them both by disarming it himself.
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A few things from this: (1) I’m glad they showed that the bombs could be disarmed before this point. (2) It’s clear to me that the Fat Guy is not only a rapist but a coward and an idiot. If he really… You know, there is no way I can make that sentence come out right. Let’s just leave it as, “he’s a coward and an idiot.”
(3) Himiko is broken. She has tried to kill herself twice in order to remain “pure.” The first resulted in the guy running away, which left her more or less angry at all men. This time, he didn’t run way, and even disarmed the bomb. I believe this has left her feeling helpless, embarrassed, hopeless, and confused. She absolutely believes that she has nothing left. All she really understands by the end is that she’s with two guys that have offered her a jacket and coffee.
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Continuing with the story, Himiko reveals why they were all selected to be on the island. Taira initially refuses to believe it but recants when he starts thinking that it could’ve been someone he worked with, whether it was a fellow realtor or a deal that went bad. Sakamoto is still skeptical, questioning how Himiko would know this. She confirms that she was told that her three friends had nominated her.
And here, Sakamoto realizes who nominated him.
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Yukie Sakamoto, his own mother.
It’s really no surprise at all that she did this. The way that they built up the relationship in episode 1 (START) showed that his mom was going to play an important role in him being on the island. The revelation of the letter in episode 2 showed that she had an opportunity to do such a thing. But her story deals with more than the nomination.
Going back to the beginning of the episode, there was a moment where Hisanobu, Ryouta’s step-father, comes home and finds her next to the bathtub. She had slit her wrists and was bleeding out. And it is here we see that Hisanobu had been laid off from his job for some time. So, in a combination of needing money and getting her disrespectful son out of the house, she sent Ryouta away. But it appears that she gravely regretted the decision.
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It’s not apparent if the suicide attempt is a success or failure. She was still talking through the scene as Hisanobu tried to save her, but who knows if it was too late.
Anyway, with the revelations out of the way, they set up the next episode of BTOOOM!. Something is stirring in the woods next to their camp fire. They can’t see who it is at all, even with the radar. Taira grabs as much gear as he can as Sakamoto grabs Himiko. Taira can’t believe his eyes as to what it is.
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And you don’t have to wait until next week to see the new enemy. Take a look below.
A few things to keep in mind going forward.
First off, we have still yet to meet that guy with the glasses from the opening. Where is he? Who is he? And how is he going to appear?
Second, nothing has been confirmed about Yukie’s suicide attempt. I’m sure we’ll find out in the end whether or not Hisanobu was able to save her but it could go either way.
Third, if she does survive — and Ryouta makes it back — how would that reunion turn out? I’d imagine that she would feel apologetic, based on her actions from this episode, but I don’t think he’d feel anything for her after this. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops.
Fourth, speaking of developing, how will the relationship between Himiko and Sakamoto develop after this episode? I’d imagine that her trust in men — or at least Sakamoto — is being built back up after the Timer bomb incident. I don’t know how this all works in real life, nor do I claim to be an expert, but I’d almost expect them to be together in a couple of episodes.
Fifth, how will Sakamoto feel when he finds out that Taira has chips in possession? Will he listen to him or will he no longer trust him — since Taira said he wouldn’t play the game? I could see it going either way right now.
Finally, the teaser for the next episodes implies that episode 6 could be the final episode with Taira. It’s uncertain what will happen but one thing is certain: someone will make a sacrifice.
BTOOOM! is developed by Madhouse, published by Showgate, and licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks. You can watch new episodes of BTOOOM! every Thursday night on the simulcast from Crunchyroll.
