2010, Two Years Later
Fast forward to a scene of the two boys eating at the kitchen table two years later, eating their breakfast before making their way to school. While he was still in Grade 4, his older brother was already in high school and couldn't accompany him while they were on school grounds. However today was an exception. His brother had a doctor's appointment later that day and had to be taken to the hospital for an illness he's been suffering for the past twelve months. The young boy was heading to school alone today.
"Have you tried out the new Call of Duty game?" he heard a classmate say.
"Oh, Black Ops? Of course, bro it's sooo good! I've been playing that along with Grand Theft Auto IV and Metal Gear Solid 4. They don't get better than this, trust me."
"What about you, Kouta?" The small group of classmates all turned to look at the young boy who sat nearby. They all seemed to be acquainted regarding PlayStation 3 titles, namely the most trending ones (which is ironic, since LittleBigPlanet received the highest rating of 95 in 2008)
"Oh, I've been playing LittleBigPlanet!" a proud Kouta Nakashima replied. A few questionable expressions look his way.
"Seriously bro? You gotta stop playing these baby games!" one of the boys replied, garnering laughs from most of the classmates surrounding them. Although he was already used to the constant teasing of playing a child's game, he didn't react. He preferred not to take offense so easily.
"It isn't all that bad, don't listen to them Kouta!" a female classmate exclaimed, siding with Souta. Souta smiled a little at the thought of someone understanding.
"Whatever, but we've always got room for another player if you ever decide to grow a pair of big boy pants!" the same boy teased, gathering laughs from the group of gamers once more. Kouta just ignored them again and continued with his homework he received earlier in the day.
"I appreciate you sticking up for me back there, Charlotte" Kouta thanked the female classmate. She smiled back with a thumbs-up. It turns out, Charlotte Taylor also owned LittleBigPlanet and understood the wonders behind it. Earlier in the year, when Kouta found out Charlotte also had the game, he had asked for her PlayStation Network username so that they could add each other to their Friends List.
"It's no problem! I've always got my friend's back!" she whispered back. Ever since they've become acquainted, they've started hanging out at school during break times. They'd share their experiences in completing LittleBigPlanet and its story mode.
A scene where Kouta and Charlotte ate their lunch during break time nearby the playgrounds.
"It took me nearly a month to pass The Canyons, and that was only the first level!"
"Oooh you're talking about the part in Boom Town where you had to carry explosives through narrow pathways using a jetpack? That was infuriating!"
"Yeah! And let's not forget The Wilderness where we had to rescue all the creators and their associates caged by The Collector!"
"No ways that took forever! Imagine having to ACE that level!"
Kouta and Charlotte laughed. They really enjoyed each other's company.
"So you haven't aced The Collector's Lair, huh? Thankfully you're looking at someone who has, hehe." A familiar voice was heard from behind the two. Kouta and Charlotte turned around to look at the source of the voice.
"Wait, you? Kai Oshiro? But I recall you saying LittleBigPlanet is a 'baby game' just the other day!" Charlotte said in confusion.
"My apologies for that. That's a facade I put up for when I'm with the rest of the class. In secret, I actually have played and aced the majority of the LittleBigPlanet story mode" he explained. Kai, the popular boy in their class who teased Kouta for playing it, proudly stood stating his achievement in the same game he mocked. Kouta looked at him in amusement.
"Is that so? Then I have a proposal" Charlotte says smugly. Kouta and Kai looked simultaneously perplexed. Her arm extends towards Kai, pointing at him.
"You, you're gonna help Kouta and I ace that level, since you're so good at the game. If you don't, we'll let the rest of your gamer cronies know you're just like the both of us!"
"Wow Charlotte, really? Blackmailing him off the bat? What is wrong with you? I get that he teased me, but I've long forgiven that already!" Kouta whispered in a worried tone.
"I was waiting for you to say that. I wanted to show off my skills anyways. Sooo should I add your PSNs or…" Kai said, before being interrupted by Charlotte.
"No, we're doing this at Kouta's place. Otherwise, the deal's off!"
"Hello, do I get a say in any of this? Kouta exclaimed, knowing he's already beat. A date was set where the three children were to meet up and attempt to ace The Collector's Lair the next day.
The Next Day
"What the hell? In one attempt?!" Kouta and Charlotte were stunned.
A scene where the three of them were seated in the lounge Kouta first played LittleBigPlanet, accompanied by his older brother Naoki, who was watching them play from the couch behind. Kai had indeed managed to ace The Collector's Lair in one go without his Sackboy dying.
"I didn't know there were fourteen-year-olds out there being this good at making it through in one piece. You're earned my respect, Kai" Naoki stated. Kouta just pouted in jealousy for a moment, then calmed down again. It was after all on his account; therefore, it did not need to be aced again.
"Thank you, Kai. Had I known you've been playing this game; we would've invited you much sooner!" Kouta expressed his gratitude.
"Aw come on, it's not like this game should be the reason to be buddies, right? We're officially friends now, even though it doesn't seem that way at school. I'm sorry for the way I treat you at school, and I promise to be better!" Kai apologised. Kouta seemed happy, so Naoki and Charlotte forgave him too.
The four of them all got along, spending many more days together just like this, not only for LittleBigPlanet sessions, but as friends purely enjoying each other's company as well. Despite Kai's words, LittleBigPlanet was indeed the reason they were all brought together.