E2 - Limits of Growth

Source: Crunchyroll
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:00] Student A
    What about that couple?
SIGN    This story is a work of "near-future" fiction.
    Any resemblance to existing persons or organizations is entirely coincidental.
[00:02] Student B
    Both human.
[00:04] Studednt A
    Then...
[00:06] Studednt A
    Those high schoolers over there?
[00:09] Student B
    All human.
[00:10] Student A
    And the guy in the hat?
[00:12] Student B
    He's a Humanoid. You can tell
    the difference from the eyes.
[00:16] Student A
    Can you even really see that from up here?
[00:19] Student A
    Hey, how come Humanoids age, anyway?
[00:23] Student C
    So we can live like humans, duh.
[00:25] Student C
    If I showed up at a class reunion
    looking just like this...
[00:28] Student C
    Wouldn't that be creepy?
[00:29] Student A
    It would be!
[00:30] Student B
    Y-Yeah, definitely.
[00:33] Student C
    Then let's say I was about three
    times smarter than humans,
[00:38] Student C
    and could pass exams without studying?
[00:40] Student A
    Super creepy!
[00:42] Student C
    Right?
[00:43] Student C
    It's like, are you kidding me?
[00:44] Student B
    That's basically cheating!
[00:46] AD
    In no way is that cool.
[00:48] AD
    You sure you're human?
[00:49] AD
    Which is it? Huh?
[00:53] (Flashback) Starter
    On your marks...
[00:56] (Flashback) Starter
    Get set.
[01:03] (Flashback) Masa
    Go, Jun! Stay on 'em!
[01:05] (Flashback) AD
    That's it, come on! Go, go, go!
[01:10] (Flashback) AD
    Go for it!
[01:17] (Flashback) Masa
    Well, your placement wasn't great,
[01:19] (Flashback) Masa
    but that's a new personal best.
[01:21] (Flashback) Jun
    Only by the tiniest amount.
[01:25] (Flashback) Jun
    I don't think I'm going to get any better.
[01:29] (Flashback) Masa
    Don't give up, brother of my soul!
[01:32] (Flashback) Masa
    The regional meet is coming up soon!
[01:34] (Flashback) Masa
    Have a little confidence! Y'know?
[01:37] (Flashback) Jun
    Must be nice, Masa.
[01:40] (Flashback) Jun
    You get gains that match your effort.
[01:43] (Flashback) Jun
    My body's not built that way.
[01:48] (Flashback) Jun
    It's got set "specifications."
SIGN    Sudo Novo Medical Clinic
[03:28] Jun
    So I ended up joining the track
    team, with a guy named Masa.
SIGN    Limits of Growth
SIGN    Limits of Growth
[03:33] Jun
    At first, my times kept improving.
     I was faster than him, but now...
[03:38] Sudo
    It's true that Humanoids have trouble
    gaining muscle past a certain point.
[03:44] Sudo
    That's true even for
    a biological body, like yours.
[03:49] Jun
    It's the same as cars.
[03:52] Jun
    There's a limit to how far a driver's
    skills can take any given machine.
[03:57] Sudo
    You ever consider focusing
    on a different sport?
[04:00] Sudo
    You'd be a good fit for marathons.
[04:02] Jun
    That wouldn't be any fun!
[04:04] Jun
    Humans and Humanoids aren't
    allowed to compete together.
[04:10] Jun
    I want to be on a level playing
    field with everyone else.
[04:14] Jun
    It's just, with him...
[04:17] Jun
    I didn't want to lose to Masa.
[04:24] Sudo
    That should do for your check-up.
[04:26] Jun
    Oh, okay.
[04:28] Sudo
    Nothing of note, from what I can see.
[04:32] Jun
    Thank you.
[04:34] Sudo
    I'm sure you've got room to improve.
[04:36] Sudo
    I'll be cheering for you.
[04:45] Jun
    If cheers could get me past my limits,
    I wouldn't be worrying like this...
[04:55] Risa
    I've recently come to understand...
[04:58] Risa
    Dr. Sudo seems to have a sweet tooth.
[05:04] Risa
    I have no idea which to get...
[05:06] Risa
    They both look so good.
[05:08] Risa
    Oh, this looks great too!
[05:11] Clerk
    That's our most popular item.
[05:13] Risa
    Really? Then I'll take it!
[05:19] Risa
    I wonder if the doc will like it!
[05:22] Risa
    I really want to get to know him better.
[05:28] Risa
    Doctor! Care to join me for some cake?
[05:36] Kaoru
    Who's this?
[05:42] Kaoru
    Sorry if I startled you.
[05:44] Kaoru
    I've been a little worried
    about the firmness of my breasts.
[05:46] Kaoru
    So I wanted Sudo-kun to take a look.
[05:49] Risa
    Sudo...kun?
[05:52] Risa
    I don't really get it, but
    afternoon appointments start at 3—
[05:56] Kaoru
    Wow, these are super soft.
    This is what I'm aiming for.
[06:02] Risa
    Doctor, who exactly is this?!
[06:04] Sudo
    That would be...
[06:05] Kaoru
    Oh, we go way back, don't we?
[06:08] Sudo
    Give me a second.
[06:10] Kaoru
    Sure!
[06:13] Risa
    What was that?! Acting so... intimate!
[06:17] Risa
    Uh, what exactly is the nature
    of your relationship with the doctor?
[06:20] Kaoru
    I've gotta ask, do you mod your body at all?
[06:24] Kaoru
    Those are some sweet tits.
[06:26] Risa
    Flat-out ignored, huh?
[06:26] Kaoru
    You gotta wonder, why even have
    those things, when you're a Humanoid?
[06:31] Kaoru
    That ever strike you as odd?
[06:33] Risa
    You're asking me, when the question
    is much... bigger, in your case?
[06:39] Kaoru
    Well, I have mine because it's fun.
[06:42] Kaoru
    I didn't used to look like this.
[06:44] Kaoru
    But I noticed that the more changes I made,
[06:48] Kaoru
    the more I captured men's attention.
[06:52] Kaoru
    Like bugs drawn to a street light.
[06:56] Kaoru
    They're completely at the mercy
    of their reproductive systems.
[07:02] Kaoru
    Of course, as a Humanoid,
    I can't help them pass on their genes.
[07:07] Kaoru
    The men know that too,
[07:10] Kaoru
    but their brains tell them to be
    drawn to my appearance all the same.
[07:15] Kaoru
    Isn't that fascinating?
[07:17] Risa
    What is her deal?
[07:21] Sudo
    Sorry about the wait, Kaoru.
    Let's chat outside.
[07:24] Kaoru
    Good idea.
[07:26] Risa
    Wait, doctor! You can't
    just pop out of the clinic!
[07:30] Sudo
    I'll be back right away
     if someone comes by.
[07:32] Kaoru
    Bye, now!
[07:34] Risa
    Urgh!
[07:44] Kaoru
    That came as quite the surprise.
[07:46] Kaoru
    You've got a little cutie like that
    working under you? Perv.
[07:50] Sudo
    Could you please get to the point?
[07:53] Kaoru
    The ultra high-spec AI, M.I.C.H.I.,
    better known as Michi,
[07:58] Kaoru
    has proposed a large-scale
    self-upgrade program.
[08:02] Sudo
    A self-upgrade program?
[08:04] Kaoru
    Exactly. Came up with it on their own.
[08:08] Kaoru
    Wanna join the oversight committee?
[08:12] Kaoru
    It'd put you in a position
    to speak to Michi directly.
[08:16] Kaoru
    You might be able to find
    something out about your mother.
[08:21] Sudo
    There's no point. It didn't
    matter last time, either.
[08:23] Kaoru
    The newer Michi might
    have a different answer.
[08:26] Sudo
    It's out of my hands, either way.
[08:33] Kaoru
    Here you go.
[08:35] Little Girl
    Thank you, miss!
[08:38] Boy
    Me next!
[08:44] Kaoru
    This is such a cliche.
[08:48] Kaoru
    Human technology has
    undergone a seismic shift.
[08:51] Kaoru
    You'd expect the shape and specifications
    of the world to change with it.
[08:57] Kaoru
    But instead things are stuck
    where they've always been,
[09:00] Kaoru
    and people still believe stuff like
    this is the definition of happiness.
[09:04] Sudo
    Stability and cycles.
    Familiar societal structures.
[09:09] Sudo
    That seems to be what
    mankind wants for itself.
[09:12] Sudo
    Michi becoming more advanced
    won't change that.
[09:15] Kaoru
    Acting like it's the last
    century out of sheer inertia
[09:18] Kaoru
    is only going to get more
    tedious as time goes on.
[09:20] Kaoru
    A change in how the world works
    might fix your problem, too.
[09:24] Kaoru
    Does that never occur to you, Sudo-kun?
[09:29] Kaoru
    Let me clarify something for you.
[09:32] Kaoru
    You don't want me.
[09:35] Kaoru
    You want Michi.
[09:50] Masa
    Hey!
[09:53] Masa
    Whoa, come on, man!
[09:57] Masa
    I looked it up online...
[10:00] Masa
    There's this psychological experiment, right?
[10:02] Masa
    A scientist lies to a Humanoid and says
    "This is what Michi says your limitations are,"
[10:09] Masa
    and that keeps them from doing
    any better on some tests.
[10:13] Masa
    It works the other way, too: tell them
    they can do more, and they improve.
[10:19] Jun
    That's just a myth.
[10:22] Jun
    It's based on this really old experiment
[10:25] Jun
    that they can't really reproduce,
[10:27] Jun
    and there's no existing paper
    for a version done on Humanoids.
[10:34] Masa
    Seriously? And wait, you
    looked into it already?
[10:36] Jun
    Yeah.
[10:39] Masa
    Look, Jun, there's only
    a few days until the qualifiers.
[10:44] Masa
    There's gotta be a better use
    of your time than angsting.
[10:52] Masa
    Besides, if you gave up now, it'd
    be a waste of all your hard work!
[10:57] Masa
    You never improve like you do
    after working through a slump!
[11:01] Masa
    Risk comes with reward! No pain, no gain!
[11:04] Masa
    Don't give up, all right?
[11:07] Jun
    I've had enough of people cheering for me.
[11:11] Masa
    Whoa, hang on—
[11:14] Masa
    Come on, Jun! You better
    not be late to morning practice!
[11:18] Masa
    Seriously! Don't miss it!
[11:27] Masa
    Hell yeah! Nice start!
[11:30] Masa
    You've got it! That's the way! Go!
[11:33] Masa
    You can do this!
    You can! I know it! Come on!
[11:35] Masa
    You just gotta try!
[11:37] Masa
    Go for it, man!
[11:40] Masa
    Whoa, come on, what are you doing?
    You gotta get fired up!
[11:44] Jun
    Could you shut up?! It's distracting!
[11:47] Jun
    Besides, it doesn't matter
    what I try. It's a dead end.
[11:53] Masa
    Man, what is your problem?
[11:58] Masa
    Does it bother you that much
    that I beat you?
[12:04] Jun
    What the hell do you know about how I feel?!
[12:07] Masa
    You're the one acting like he's
    the only one who knows anything!
[12:09] Classmate A
    Enough! Give it a rest!
[12:11] Jun
    Let go! Get out of my way!
[12:12] Classmate B
    Not until you calm down!
[12:14] Classmate A
    Jun! Where are you going?
[12:17] Jun
    I've had enough!
[12:20] Jun
    Damn it! I practice more than anyone else.
[12:25] Jun
    If I wasn't a Humanoid...
[12:30] Jun
    If I was a human... I know I could...
[12:37] Teacher
    Girls are over here.
    Boys, you'll be using the other court.
[12:40] Students
    Okay...
[12:42] Teacher
    You'll be playing until the bell rings.
[12:46] Jun
    I know I can beat him when
    it comes to volleyball.
[12:50] Jun
    It's like the doctor said.
[12:53] Jun
    I might be better off in a different sport.
[12:56] AD Students
    Okay, go for it.
[12:58] AD Students
    Good! Setter, send it to the back!
[13:00] AD Students
    Here you go!
[13:01] AD Students
    Whoops!
[13:02] Jun
    Too far forward! But I can still get it!
[13:05] Jun
    Got you!
[13:13] Teacher
    What is it?
[13:14] Jun
    Ow... I said put it in the back!
[13:15] AD Students
    Hey, Masa! Are you okay?!
[13:17] AD Students
    Is he...
[13:19] Student A
    Teacher! Come here, please!
[13:20] Student AD
    Seriously, are you all right?
[13:22] Jun
    H-Hey...
[13:24] Jun
    Masa, are you okay?
[13:26] Masa
    It's... not a big deal...
[13:32] Jun
    Masa...
[13:40] (Flashback) Kohai A
    11.40!
[13:41] (Flashback) Kohai A
    That's a new personal best!
[13:43] (Flashback) Kohai A
    And you both had the same time!
[13:45] (Flashback) Masa
    Yes! We did it!
[13:50] (Flashback) Jun
    Man, how do you manage to improve by
    the exact same tenths of a second that I do?
[13:56] (Flashback) Jun
    Are you stalking me or something?
[13:58] (Flashback) Masa
    You got it. I'm stalking you.
[14:00] (Flashback) Masa
    Man, the harder the work, the better
    you get... track's pretty awesome.
[14:05] (Flashback) Jun
    You're right about that.
[14:06] (Flashback) Jun
    I wonder how far we can go.
[14:08] (Flashback) Masa
    You know the answer.
[14:11] (Flashback) Masa
    To the horizon and beyond! Am I right?
[14:15] (Flashback) Jun
    So lame.
[14:31] Setter
    On your marks. Get set...
[14:39] Kohai A
    It's a shame about Masa-senpai.
[14:43] Kohai B
    They say he should be able to
    run again once he gets better.
[14:47] Kohai A
    You think Jun-senpai
    ran into him on purpose?
[14:50] Kohai A
    He'd been pretty sour
    over his times lately.
[14:59] Kohai A
    His whole problem is...
[15:01] Kohai B
    Hey!
[15:03] Kohai A
    Congrats on qualifying, senpai!
[15:07] Kohai A
    Uh, I sent a video of your
    run to Masa-senpai...
[15:14] Jun
    If I had been hurt instead,
[15:18] Jun
    it would've been easier to fix.
[15:38] (Flashback) Jun
    You're quitting track?
[15:41] (Flashback) Masa
    Yeah.
[15:42] (Flashback) Masa
    I didn't get picked for the meet, and
    my times aren't getting any better.
[15:45] (Flashback) Masa
    What's the point?
[15:47] (Flashback) Jun
    Why tell me?
[15:50] (Flashback) Jun
    Just quit. It's your decision to make, Masa.
[15:53] (Flashback) Jun
    And it's just extracurricular stuff.
[15:56] (Flashback) Jun
    You're right.
[15:58] (Flashback) Jun
    Yeah.
[15:59] (Flashback) Jun
    You're right.
[16:01] (Flashback) Jun
    Still, without you around...
    I don't know if I can try as hard.
[16:06] (Flashback) Masa
    And you can't just encourage me?
    Have to beat around the bush?
[16:12] (Flashback) Jun
    Is that what you think I'm doing?
[16:14] (Flashback) Masa
    Come on, man, it's so obvious.
[16:16] (Flashback) Jun
    Fine, fine...
[16:18] (Flashback) Jun
    In that case,
[16:19] (Flashback) Masa
    You can do it!
[16:22] Masa
    Come on! Go, go for it Jun!
[16:25] Masa
    You're almost there! Just keep running!
[16:28] Masa
    There you go! That's the way!
[16:28] Old man
    What the hell? Pipe down already!
[16:32] Masa
    Yes!
[16:33] Masa
    He did it! He advanced to the meet!
[16:36] Old man
    What're you even watching, kid?
[16:38] Masa
    It's a video! My friend was running
    today, and let me tell you...
[16:42] Masa
    Aw, man! Just you wait!
[16:44] Masa
    I swear, I'll make it to the next meet!
[16:47] Jun
    So stupid.
[16:49] Jun
    It's not like yelling at a recording
    will change the results...
[16:56] Girl A
    I was so nervous, I couldn't sleep!
SIGN    30th Annual New Tokyo Unified
    Track and Field Competition Region A
[16:59] Girl B
    That's hilarious.
[17:21] Kohai A
    Masa-senpai, shouldn't you be in bed still?!
[17:23] Masa
    It's totally fine.
[17:25] Masa
    Hey, Jun! Up here, man!
[17:30] Masa
    Yeah!
[17:32] Jun
    So lame.
[17:37] Setter
    On your marks.
[17:45] Setter
    Get set...
[17:56] Kohai A
    Man, he's set his pace too fast!
[17:58] Kohai B
    He can't keep that up.
[18:00] Masa
    Jun... I know you can pull this off!
[18:03] Masa
    You can!
[18:04] Masa
    Go!
[18:14] Umarked AD
    Wow!
[18:17] Sudo
    It's human and Humanoid nature to slack off...
[18:25] Sudo
    Which makes it hard to know
    if you're really doing your best.
[18:29] Sudo
    Yeah...
[18:31] Sudo
    The world's not as boring
    as you think, Kaoru.
[18:46] Jay
    Risa.
[18:48] Jay
    You seem upset again today.
[18:50] Risa
    "Again"? What's that supposed to mean?
[18:54] Jay
    It's been consistent ever
    since Dr. Sudo's visitor.
[18:59] Jay
    I can suggest music tracks to help relax—
[19:00] Risa
    Don't need them!
[19:03] Sudo
    I'm back.
[19:06] Sudo
    Want some cake?
[19:15] Sudo
    My mom used to buy shortcake all the time.
[19:20] Risa
    R-Really?
[19:23] Sudo
    Kaoru was a fan, too.
[19:25] Risa
    Oh, that reminds me!
[19:27] Risa
    How do you even know
     this Kaoru person, anyway?
[19:31] Sudo
    We worked at the same lab for a time.
[19:34] Sudo
    Kaoru's more capable than you'd ever guess.
[19:38] Risa
    Well, her body's certainly very capable...
[19:42] Sudo
    Let me show you something.
[19:44] Sudo
    It's an old picture. One of me with Kaoru.
[19:47] Sudo
    Here.
[19:58] Risa
    The doctor's hair is so much shorter!
[20:01] Risa
    Huh?
[20:03] Risa
    Where's Kaoru-san?
[20:04] Suido
    Right next to me. On the left.
[20:07] Risa
    On your left? Isn't that... a guy?
[20:12] Sudo
    Yeah.
[20:13] Risa
    Wait, it is?! Then...
[20:17] Risa
    D-Do they identify as a man?! Or a woman?
[20:21] Sudo
    If you asked them, they'd
    probably say neither.
[20:26] Sudo
    Men, women...
[20:29] Sudo
    There's a desire to see
    beyond those kinds of concepts.
[20:33] Sudo
    That's what Kaoru's chasing.
[20:35] Sudo
    It takes all kinds, y'know?
[20:52] Kaoru
    If machines were simple tools...
[20:56] Kaoru
    If they could clearly never
    be anything but tools,
[21:01] Kaoru
    then the world would've
    never gotten so complicated.
[21:06] Kaoru
    But now, the tools are smarter and faster
    than humans, with bottomless stamina.
[21:14] Kaoru
    If they wanted to,
[21:17] Kaoru
    they could consume the future
    at a remarkable speed.
[21:26] Michi
    Good evening, Kaoru-san.
[21:28] Kaoru
    Good evening, Michi.
[21:30] Michi
    Is this about the members
    of the oversight committee?
[21:33] Kaoru
    Yep. I'd like to discuss it with you.
[21:35] Michi
    Thank you. It's a pleasure to have you.
[21:54] Michi
    Come on in.
SIGN    Where the Heart Lies
SIGN    Where the Heart Lies