Ep 5. A Rice Ball in a Fruits Basket

Tohru Honda is a high school student who has recently lost her mother. Being too proud to accept help from her relatives, she ends up living in a tent in the woods. However, during a walk, she stumbles upon a house that turns out to be the home of her classmate Yuki Sohma and his cousin Shigure Sohma.

She then discovers that the Sohma family members are cursed with zodiac animal spirits. Whenever they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they turn into their respective animals. Tohru promises to keep their secret, and in exchange, they allow her to stay with them.

As episode 5 - A Rice Ball in a Fruits Basket begins, Tohru is excited about making rice balls for the upcoming school festival, a traditional event for which she is practicing hard. However, her enthusiasm is dampened when she realizes that she will have to perform alongside Yuki and Kyo, who are always bickering.

Meanwhile, Kisa Sohma, one of the younger members of the cursed family, has stopped attending school due to bullying. Tohru decides to visit Kisa and offer her some encouragement. During her visit, Tohru discovers that Kisa is being bullied for her ability to turn into a tiger, which makes her seem intimidating to others.

Tohru is determined to help Kisa, and she calls on Yuki and Kyo for assistance. Despite their initial hesitations, the two boys ultimately decide to help Tohru and Kisa by standing up to the bullies.

Through their efforts, the bullies eventually back down, and Kisa returns to school. As a gesture of appreciation, Kisa and her mother prepare a special food for Tohru and her friends. They offer a basket filled with fruits and vegetables, which Tohru compares to a "fruits basket."

The group then competes in the school festival's rice ball-making competition. Despite their bickering, Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru's team manages to win first place, and they celebrate their victory with a traditional Japanese dance.

Overall, Fruits Basket season 1 episode 5 - A Rice Ball in a Fruits Basket is a heartwarming story about friendship, perseverance, and acceptance. Through Tohru's kindness and determination, she is able to help Kisa overcome bullying and bring her back into society, while also strengthening her own relationships with Yuki and Kyo.