01x01 - Highway

[bunniefuu]

[electronic bleeping]

[ethereal synth music playing]

[narrator] Points on points on points.

Tokyo, the point where points converge.

This is a city

where all shared data is optimized.

Humans, cars, streets, bridges.

Everything that matters is tracked

as a cluster of points in the cloud.

Other regions, capitals,

even countries are irrelevant here.

Data points are constantly flowing

in and out of Tokyo.

They are like bees collecting honey.

The more efficient the routes they take,

the more honey they can collect.

[boy gasps] Whoa.

Oh! [gasps]

[giggles]

[continues giggling]

[momentous music playing]

[girl] Mommy, I wanna have cake.

- [mother] I'm not taking any detours.

- [girl] Wait, it's doing it.

[computerized voice]

Your route has been optimized.

[girl] There. See?

Well, who am I

to argue against the machine?

[girl giggles] Yeah.

[gentle electronic music playing]

[music swells]

[man] Yeah-heh-heh!

[woman] This isn't a race, boys.

You need to slow down.

If you get hit the Wall before the Blind

does, you'll have to shake trackers again.

It's not a race,

but if we play our cards right,

it definitely could be.

Just stay outta my way.

Ha! So serious.

[woman] Hey! I said to slow down.

[mellow music playing]

We're near the Wall.

The Blind should activate in 20 seconds.

Ten, nine, eight,

seven, six, five,

four, three, two, one.

[intense music playing]

[computer beeps]

[music fades]

[girl] Look, a dragonfly!

- Let it be!

- Whoo!

- [girl laughing]

- [woman chuckles]

[girl] Aw, it's flying off!

[woman] Wait, don't chase it.

We're not meant to stray from the route.

[girl gasps]

[mysterious girl] Here.

Uh Uh

[door hisses]

[sighs]

[bleeping]

[sighs]

[electronic voice] One bowl of ramen

served with all the usual toppings

in a piping hot broth.

[mysterious girl] Ah-ah-ah. Ow.

[electronic voice]

Thank you for your business!

[distant engines revving]

[narrator] Some points

collide catastrophically,

and some connect in serendipity.

This is the story

of a non-optimal cluster of points

trying to survive in an optimized network.

Ya, ya ♪

Ya-ah-ah ♪

[bleeping]

As Tokyo recovered

from the Great Tokai Earthquake,

it took on a new form.

It's now divided into three districts

by way of digital walls.

[lecture continues on video] Tokyo's

Original Citizens live in the West.

New Citizens, be they from our nation not,

live in the East District,

and the Mid District is home to a mixture

of citizens from the East and the West.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

[mysterious girl] I'm in class.

Aren't you in class too?

IN CLASS

Oh.

Playing hooky again.

YOUR AUTOPILOT GOT ME ZERO ABSENCES.

YOU FREE?

OUT OF THE QUESTION! 98%

YES

[lecturer] All citizens

have a high quality of life,

ensured by the basic income system.

The needs of individuals

are tracked by way of devices,

which are linked to digital tags.

Countless optimizations are made daily

to support our interests

and our lifestyles.

These optimizations are only possible

because of Traceability,

a powerful new

location-sharing technology.

This technology enabled

the Mobility Reforms,

which brought about

a post-scarcity, post-privacy society.

Now anyone and everyone

can enjoy a life of freedom and happiness.

OPTIMIZING ROUTE

- [girl] Kai.

- Huh?

That was way close.

I've got literal helicopter parents.

I mean, they're constantly tracking me.

So, unfortunately, I can't stay too long.

But, listen. I'm really glad you're here.

Hmm. So am I.

You're good with two, right?

What? No way!

You really managed to get them?

- I'm so happy!

- [Kai] I don't get what the big deal is.

[girl] Well, this is for you.

- And

- Huh?

so is this. Here.

Oh.

- Do you wanna come?

- [gasps]

You and me, right?

I guess we could. Do you really think

your parents will let you go?

You're kidding. Why would you say that?

Shut up about my parents.

They're the worst. I'll be fine. [huffs]

So do you need anything else or what?

Oh. Right, right! There is one thing.

I hate to ask,

but, uh, I could use another favor, Kai.

You're the only person I can count on

for this stuff.

[sighs] Forget I asked.

Tell me. I wanna know.

Curious?

[chuckles] 'Kay!

[whooshing]

I wanna use Highway.

[mysterious music playing]

But Highway's, like--

- No lectures, okay? I know it's a drug.

- [Kai] It's just

[girl] Look, it used to be pretty easy

to get some in the West,

but the guys who used to bring it from Mid

stopped coming.

There's been a crackdown,

so I guess they lost their nerve.

Do you keep up with police stuff?

Apparently, the whole narcotics unit

might get disbanded before long,

so they're all working like crazy

to try and save their jobs.

It sucks. They're a real nuisance.

But you could

run circles around them, right?

OCCUPIED

[musical jingle plays]

[beeping]

[Kai] So you want me to go to Mid for you?

Yeah! I'd go myself

if I didn't live with control freaks.

If my parents caught me leaving West,

I bet they'd chain me to a toilet

or something.

But you live solo.

You're totally free. Must be nice.

I guess so.

There's my dad. See?

They're, like, always keeping tabs.

[softly] Go away.

Look. You're rich enough that you get

chauffeured around in a private car.

Why not have your dad help you?

Huh? What kind of a freaks-how daughter

asks her parents to take her to buy drugs?

Ideas like that get families destroyed.

Well, I'll be counting on you.

Bye-bye.

[distant clanging]

[gasps softly]

[man] Hmm?

My friend said

that you might have a hookup.

Ah. [tuts]

How many?

Twenty thousand.

[man] Hmm.

Huh? [chuckles]

Here. Thanks.

My stuff's quality.

Yeah, I don't doubt it.

I'm surprised it was this easy to get,

that's all.

So long as you have the points,

you can get anything you want in Mid.

Huh!

Hmm?

- Oh!

- [Kai groans]

- Damn it. It's the narcs!

- Huh?

[suspenseful music playing]

- Huh Uh!

- [narc 1] Hold it!

[whirring]

[grunting]

Ah! Huh?

- [chuckles]

- [Kai strains]

- Ah!

- [narc 2 grunting]

Let me go!

[narc 3] Stop resisting.

[narc 1 sighs] Tough break, kid.

[panting]

[narc 1] Let's see

what we can find out about you.

- Scan her.

- [narc 3] Yes, sir.

- [bleeps]

- [whirs]

[narc 1] Kai Koguma.

Tell me, Kai,

why would a West District citizen

be skulkin' around

in a dingy place like this?

[Kai grunts]

TRANSITION HISTORY

[narc 1] Uh! Ah!

[grunting]

[man] Mmm! So far, so good.

Oh yeah. That's the stuff.

- [panting]

- [whirring]

[man] Mmm.

- [device whirs]

- Huh? Did I get hacked?

My watch just flipped out. She hacked me!

[dramatic music playing]

[Kai] To the West District!

[computerized voice]

Thank you for riding with us.

No, we're not! Uh!

What the

- Vehicle will stop shortly.

- Wait.

The West is where I wanted to go.

Huh?

[man grunts]

Why, hello there.

UNLOCKED

[man] Hmm.

You done screwed the pooch.

[yelps] Yah!

So you were being chased by the narcs,

is that it?

Hate to lecture,

but drugs are bad for your health.

[Watari] That punk's health

is the least of our worries.

- If Father finds out about this--

- [man] I know, right?

The second he took his eyes off you,

you got hacked.

Old man Yukio's gonna have a field day

with this one.

I will beat you.

So what do we do with her?

[Watari] What can we do?

Once we've processed this data,

we'll turn her in.

- Hold on.

- [man] Mm?

[Watari] Hmm?

I promise to keep quiet about you,

so, please, just let me go.

Are you trying to bargain?

I'm pretty sure the Container Truck

we're sitting in was illegally hijacked.

I don't know what you people are up to,

but if you get caught,

they won't just suspend

your business license.

You might get banned from the city.

[scoffs] This mouthy brat.

[Watari] Mm.

[laughs]

Okay. Sounds like we should let her go.

- And why is that?

- It's our best option.

We're not about to imprison someone

against their will now, are we?

- [Watari] It's not that simple, Hugo.

- [Hugo] Hmm.

Take it.

[chuckles] Kick back!

We can't drop you off

till we take care of some business first.

- Should be pretty fun.

- Huh?!

- We're bringing her?

- We have to. We're on a schedule.

But, hey, no road is too long

with good company.

We've been flung together by fate. Right?

[somber music playing]

Good grief. I still need my tag

if you're done with it, you know?

I can't! I don't have time.

We can't have duplicates.

The system will flag us for sure!

Great. Guess we've got no choice.

[airy music playing]

[Watari] Snip.

Ah.

Cool, right?

That digital Wall's got nothin' on us.

Huh?

Huh? Father, why are you here?

Oh. Uh, I was just passing by

on my way home.

Thought I'd check on you.

- In what world is this "on your way home"?

- Ha ha!

Look, Father, I told you we would be fine,

and we are.

Yeah, and I believe you, but, uh

Hmm? You got a kid now?

[grunts] When did this operation

become a pickup service for stray cats?

She appeared like a magician's rabbit.

Ta-da!

[sighs]

- [woman] Right on time, I see.

- Well Hmm?

- Who's that?

- Her name's Ieuji.

She may be the one official

in the city's Digital Department

who cares about human rights.

[Watari] Ms. Ieuji,

thanks for coming to meet us.

So are we going with the usual today?

No, I'm afraid not.

- [Ieuji] Everyone

- Hmm?

[Ieuji] gather over here please.

[kids laughing]

Huh? Ah

- [kid] Are you gonna save us?

- Children?

- And there's five of them?

- [Father] Come on, kids!

Yes, that's right.

They all came the capital legally

thanks to the Human Rights Relief Program,

but that program was abruptly cut.

So the kids are only here

because they were invited,

and yet the city's left them stranded

with no place to go.

If we leave them to the law,

they'll all be deported,

but if they can hide out for a few weeks

in a Human Rights Relief Shelter,

I can help them apply for tags.

Hence why you're asking our special

delivery service to save the day.

[Ieuji] It may go against my duty

as a government official,

but can't justify

throwing these kids to the wolves.

Thing is, we don't have enough room

to transfer this m--

- It's all right! Leave it to us.

- What? Hugo!

We'll just throw a couple kids

in the back of your car.

If we take two vehicles,

we'll get flagged for sure.

If that happens,

we'll just have to race our way out.

Ain't that right, Spoke?

- [kid] Hey!

- Stop talking to me.

Also, I'll be glad

to pay any additional costs incurred.

You're too kind.

Uh Thank you for all your support.

Cool? Cool! Then let's get zoomin'!

- [groans]

- [Hugo] All right! Hop on in.

Well, for the record, I'm impressed.

Officials don't help the tagless often.

It's good to see.

It's all thanks to your team

at the Suma Garage

that they have a shot at freedom.

We're all counting on you.

- [Father] All right, you runts, move it.

- [Watari] Hey, wait a sec! Ugh!

I can't begin to express my gratitude.

[Hugo] All good. Later!

- So cool!

- Quiet down.

- Cool!

- Stop with the racket!

- Yeah, yeah!

- Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Roll that window back up!

You'll fly out or somethin'!

Cool, right? Yeah, Tokyo is one of a kind.

- You understand what we're saying, right?

- Mm.

Kids invited to come to the capital

tend to prepare for the move

as if their lives depend on it.

But if the tags that they were promised

get revoked,

they'll be deported all the same.

Little guys go through all the trouble

of coming in through official channels

only to end up tagless anyway.

- [boy 1] Come on, show us your wrist!

- [Kai] Hang on.

- [boy 2] You don't have a tag?

- [Kai] Let go!

[boy 1] You can't live in Tokyo

without a tag!

- [Kai] Stop it!

- [boys laugh]

[Hugo] Want one?

- Huh? Wait, is that Highway or--

- It's just a candy.

And just for you.

Go on.

- [Hugo chuckles]

- [Kai sighs]

[whirring]

All right, Father,

we're closing in the Wall now.

- All good?

- [kids all talk at once]

[Watari] Blind will activate in five,

four, three, two, one.

- [kids exclaiming]

- Ah!

- Hang on, kids!

- You're okay!

[rock music playing]

- We got caught!

- Yeah.

- Maybe they'll start listening to me now.

- Yeah, right!

[suspenseful music playing]

- [Watari] Crap. They're on us.

- [Kai] What do we do?

- One more move. Are you ready for this?

- Yeah. Of course.

What move? Huh? Ah!

Grab something sturdy and hold on!

You okay?

- [Watari] Go! We'll catch up!

- Understood!

- You be careful!

- [tires squeal]

[Kai and boy panting]

[gasps]

[engine revs]

[rock music playing]

- So, uh, kid is yours, Watari.

- [Watari] Okay.

Spoke, you got the bots.

And catch. Hmm!

Congrats. You're with me!

Ah!

[coughs]

- Ah. Missed you too, baby girl.

- What?

[Kai and boy yell]

Huh?

It was you.

- [rock music continues]

- Ya, ya ♪

Ya-ah-ah ♪

[Hugo] Nice, right?

Ya ♪

Ya ♪

Would anyone be okay here?

- We got company.

- [Hugo] Yep!

- Forming some core memories?

- Huh?

Today's delivery is freedom!

[Kai and Scott] Stop trying to sound cool!

No one's impressed, okay?

Watari.

[boy whimpering]

Hey! Can you get us

right next to her motorcycle?

Yeah!

[Hugo] Watari, on your left!

[gasps] Thank you!

- g*n it!

- Well, who's trying to sound cool now?

- Yeah! Let's g*n it.

- [screams]

[Kai grunting] Ah! Uh!

Ah!

- Hang on real tight, okay?

- Uh

[music fades]

[Kai groans]

[tranquil music playing]

[Kai] Even the optimized city

has nooks, crannies, cracks

and people slipping through them.

SUMA GARAGE

[Kai] Our flaws are grease in the gears

of the perfect system.

[somber music playing]

But the cracks in that system

are starting to show.

[narc 1 exhales]

A tagless.

[dramatic music playing]

We don't even know

where this kid came from.

Regardless, this out of our jurisdiction.

Hmm.

Hmm?

Huh?

Well think our first clue

is on the sweet side.

Mmm.

[dramatic musical flourish]

["Cryptogram" playing]

♪ Cryptogram, ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ We'll never solve it ♪

- We try to fight it ♪

- Fight it ♪

[lyrics in Japanese]

- I decided ♪

- Decided ♪

♪ Everything is in between ♪

[lyrics in Japanese]

♪ It's not the same, I know that ♪

[lyrics in Japanese]

♪ Cryptogram ♪

[lyrics in Japanese]

♪ Cryptogram ♪

[lyrics in Japanese]

Beside your cryptogram ♪

[lyrics in Japanese]

♪ Cryptogram ♪