Vol. 1 Chapter 8 – Two-Player Only

A two-player-only game.

Not a solo game that can be played by two, nor a multiplayer game that can be played by three, four, or more.

Literally, no modes other than two-player exist.

That’s this ‘It Needs Two’.

It was fine that I bought it some time ago out of interest.

But thinking about it, I had no one to play it with, making it one of the backlog games gathering dust at the bottom of my library.

Asahi-san’s words reminded me of its existence, leading to us playing it together today, but…

“Hmm, hmm… So you choose which character to control first.” (Hikaru)

Following a movie scene depicting what seemed like a marital spat on the title screen, we entered the character selection screen.

“Which one are you picking, Kageyama-kun?” (Hikaru)
“Wh-Which one should I pick…” (Reiya)

On the screen were two dolls held by a little girl, likely the daughter of the aforementioned couple.

Apparently, you choose one of these to control in the game, and their appearances are based on the daughter’s parents.

Through years of experience, I intuited that this was a game about repairing a cold marital relationship throughout the story.

The creators surely envisioned actual married couples or partners playing it first.

If not that, then it’s a game to mess around with same-sex friends.

I held my head, realizing I’d chosen a rather heavy game to play with someone of the opposite sex who wasn’t even my girlfriend.

“I wonder what the difference is? Is it just looks?” (Hikaru)
“W-Well… I wonder…” (Reiya)

If I, being the guy, chose the husband, Asahi-san would inevitably become the wife.

Forcing that role onto a girl who’s only my classmate feels quite awkward.

‘Ugh, this guy… choosing a game like this, trying to act like my husband…’

I became terrified she might be thinking something like that internally.

Besides, forcing the wife role on her just because she’s female might be problematic from a modern gender role perspective.

That said, deliberately choosing the wife myself would likely seem like I was being weirdly conscious of it.

From my Gloomy Type mindset, either choice was hell of hells.

If only the roles for each character were clear, I could have used that as an excuse…

“Okay, I’ll pick this one then!” (Hikaru)

Leaving me agonizing, Asahi-san chose the wife character with no hesitation.

“Y-You’re picking that one…?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, since we’re doing this, isn’t it better if we match the genders? You be Papa, Kageyama-kun.” (Hikaru)

…’Since we’re doing this’? What does that mean?

Is playing pseudo-married couple pretend trending in TikkyTokky without me knowing?

“Well, if that’s the case, then I’ll take this one…” (Reiya)

While intensely bewildered internally, I maintained a calm facade externally and selected my character.

With this, I at least had the excuse that I wasn’t the one who chose it.

Pulling myself together, I focused my attention on the movie playing on screen.

Just as expected, the protagonist couple in the work was telling their only daughter about their divorce.

Next to me, Asahi-san wore a rather solemn expression, perhaps empathizing with the daughter.

And so, the opening finished, and once the two became dolls, the control part finally began.

“Ooh… Moves pretty nimbly. Feels good to control.” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san spun her character around in place using the analog stick.

Trying not to think about unnecessary things any further, I stoically began exploring.

“Ah, pressing this seems to open that over there.” (Hikaru)
“I see~, so while you hold that switch, I go ahead.” (Reiya)

Basically, it’s a simple 3D action game using jump actions.

It seems the gameplay involves solving gimmicks cooperatively to advance through the stages.

“Papa~! Over here, over here!” (Hikaru)

The controls feel good, and it doesn’t seem like a bad game in terms of fun, but…

“Okay, next, Papa come over here!” (Hikaru)

…Is this girl doing this on purpose?

While I was trying not to be weirdly conscious of it myself, the only unexpected thing was her cementing that form of address.

“The graphics are really pretty too~. Look, even the dirt in places like this.” (Hikaru)
“Yeah, it feels lived-in… It’s incredibly detailed.” (Reiya)

However, as we got more absorbed into the game’s world, that gradually started to bother me less.

Breathtakingly beautiful graphics, and a satisfying gameplay feel provided by a continuous stream of new gimmicks.

At times it was 3D action, at others 2D side-scrolling, and sometimes even a TPS shooter.

We lost track of time, engrossed in the rich variety of game experiences, like overturning a toy box.

And so, several hours after starting, during a brief cutscene break—

“Come to think of it, what do your father and mother do, Kageyama-kun?” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san suddenly asked such a question.

“My parents? They’re in India right now.” (Reiya)
“India!? You mean the India, home of curry!?” (Hikaru)

A reaction of considerable surprise, rare for her, came back.

Parents in India, son living alone—a strange setup rarely seen even in Galges.

It seemed to have piqued the interest of even the unflappable Asahi-san.

“Yeah, that India, home of curry.” (Reiya)
“Wow~… Is it like a work-related overseas assignment?” (Hikaru)
“Yeah, the company my dad works for is apparently launching a new business over there. He was entrusted with an important role in the project.” (Reiya)
“Amazing~. So your mom went with him, and only you stayed behind, living alone.” (Hikaru)
“Well, something like that. Initially, only Dad was supposed to go on assignment alone. But Mom got worried about him being alone overseas, so she ended up going too. They told me to get used to it now, so I started living alone.” (Reiya)
“Hae~… That sounds tough~.” (Hikaru)
“It certainly has its challenges, but it’s relaxing not having anyone complain when I stay up late or laze around on days off.” (Reiya)
“Ahaha! That might certainly be true.” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san laughed out loud, perhaps having some personal experience with that.

“But, it sounds like your parents get along really well, I’m envious~.” (Hikaru)
“Envious? Of my parents?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, don’t you admire couples who get married, have kids, watch them grow up… and still stay incredibly close through it all?” (Hikaru)
“W-Well, I wonder… I guess it’s better than not getting along…” (Reiya)

I was perplexed by Asahi-san suddenly starting to talk about her views on marriage.

On the screen, the protagonist couple happened to be discussing the reasons for their discord that led to the divorce.

Could it be she’s being influenced by the game’s story…?

“You know? When I hear stories about people who still hold hands while shopping together even when they’re grandparents, I always think it’s wonderful. Aren’t Kageyama-kun’s parents just like that?” (Hikaru)
“Hmm… Well, they were still going shopping arm-in-arm even when they were around forty…” (Reiya)

I recalled how my parents were when they still lived together in Japan.

They always went shopping together, and they’d be lovey-dovey without caring if I was there.

Honestly, as their son, it was pretty awkward, but apparently, some people see that as ideal.

“That’s really nice~…” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san murmured, gazing blankly into the void.

Apparently, she wasn’t just paying lip service; she truly admired that kind of couple.

The most popular girl in school, the beauty at the top of the hierarchy, the next-generation idol of the women’s sports world.

I felt like, for the first time, I had touched upon her core self, beyond those superficial labels.

Though it was a strange conversation, skipping over various things to land directly on views about marriage…

“…Well then, shall we start by turning these two back into such a loving couple?” (Reiya)

I said this, indicating our characters who had reached the next stage after the cutscene ended.

After a pause of a few beats, she understood my meaning and smiled as usual.

“Yeah, you’re right. Okay, I wonder what kind of stage is next~” (Hikaru)

Gripping the controllers again, we returned to the game world together.

We wracked our brains together during puzzle sections and shouted encouragement to cooperate during boss fights.

During the scene where the couple cooperatively and brutally murdered the innocent elephant stuffed toy, we both recoiled in horror.

It was a bit vexing to admit, given what I’d said to Hayato, but playing a game side-by-side with someone else was certainly fun.

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• Backlog Games: Where you have list of games bought but not yet played.
• TikkyTokky: Must be TikTok. I almost wrong when guessing this from raw.