Pinoko, refusing to believe that Black Jack is dead, continues to try and dig through the rubble of their bombed out house. For a while, she lives in the diner owned by Black Jack's friend Tetsu, but is later adopted by a family that runs a local hospital. Pinoko still rejects her predicament, and later spots someone in a black cloak, similar to the one Black Jack wore. It is then revealed that Black Jack had survived the bomb blast thanks to help from his whale friend Torition. Black Jack went into hiding to prevent putting Pinoko in danger in case the group that was after him tried another assassination attempt, though he later comes out of hiding and takes Pinoko with him when he discovers an old picture in the clinic once owned by Dr. Honma, Black Jack's mentor.
