-...and this was what happened, so I'm sorry that I can't return the game yet!

-What the heck are you talking about?

It was lunchtime in the school cafeteria, full of students' voices chatting in the background. Chris was sitting together with his two friends on a table. He explained the events that lead to the corruption of the game his friend lent to him.

But his friend, Max, was full of confusion after the explanation, making Chris suspicious.

-It's about the game, Max. [You are mine and mine alone], the visual novel you lended to me before the snow storm?

Fixing his glasses, Max said with a tone of exhaustion.

-Look, Chris, think of this for a moment. You, playing a visual novel I lent, one that is a dating simulator on top of that? I showed you [Ganganronpa] and my uncensored version of [Fate/Stand Day] and you hadn't even shown the slightest of interest.

-I know how does it look, but It's true! At first, I played because there was nothing else, but then I got hooked and played many times. I started to love it!

-Besides, the heroines of this game are yanderes? All of them? There is no way you would like it, right, David?

Chewing a sandwich on the left of Max, there was a 6.3-foot tall boy. While still chewing, he said.

-It's true, Chris. You shouldn't lie to your friends like that. We like you even if you don't show interest in our hobbies. You are fine being who you are.

-David, you are not helping!

Max sighs.

-Look, Chris, let's say this game does exist. I don't even remember having it, how could I lend it to you?

-But Max, you was so excited when you managed to get a physical copy of it! "Behold, mortals! I had been chosen by the havens to adquire the new sensation of this game era! This visual novel shall be the best one to day!"

-Hey, I don't talk like that! - Said Max, flushing.

-Nope, you definitely do. I had noted some of them, wanna see?

-David, shut up!

-How can you not remember it, Max? You played for a whole month before lending it to me.

Scratching his head in confusion, Max thought for a moment.

-No use, man. I can't remember having a game like this, in fact, I don't remember hearing about this game. You sure this exists?

-Are you pranking me right now because I liked the game? Of course, it does!

Stopping eating the handmade lunch his mother did for him, Max picked up his cellphone and started to type on it. Interested, Chris asked.

-What are you searching, Max?

-That game, what else. If this game is so interesting that made you like visual novels, then it's too weird I didn't hear about it. [You are mine and mine alone], right?

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

-You still think it's a lie?

Chris looks more confused than before at Max, which ignores him to continue his search. Chris sighs annoyed.

-Fine, so be it. Let's see how far this prank goes, just waiting for you to show me the reviews saying how great the game is and how fortunate I'm to have a friend like yo-

-There is nothing, see? The game doesn't exist.

Showing his phone's search to Chris, Max resumed eating. There was no game with that name in the search links, only irrelevant sites with music or fanfictions.

Chris blinks his eyes in confusion with what is shown on his friend's cellphone.

-Huh?!

Stealing the phone, the scrolls down the page searching for the game's name to appear, but there was nothing about it. According to what Max said before, there was supposed to be a ton of reviews and videos about the game, as if it never existed.

Chris looked alternatively between the phone and Max, being confused with the situation.

-...What?

Grabbing his phone back, Max said.

-It is what it is, nothing about it. Bet it was just a crazy dream, with that NPC talking with you via texts and being a character.

-But imagine how cool it would be if that happened.

-Oh yeah! If that truly existed, that game would be the best of it's kind! Switching topics, did you guys saw the meteor the night before?

-Oh man, it was beautifull! Me and my girlfriend went to a spot just to...

(...just what is going on here? Do they really not remember about the game?)

As his two friends were chatting on his front, Chris couldn't think of any explanation for them not to recall the game.

The only thing he felt was the goosebums in his back.

[][][][][]

Even in class, he couldn't shake off this feeling of uneasiness. Something was wrong. Altho he wished for it, this is not a prank.

(What could had happen? If I follow what Max said before, [You are mine] was supposed to be one of the game hits from this year, and yet they don't remember it?)

The teacher was teaching a new subject to the students and many were listening to it quietly while taking notes, but on Chris' notebook were written only things that are helping him in solving this problem.

(No, not only them. From what I saw on the phone, there was nothing about it either. But how? It's like all the world had forgetten the game existed.)

It was a crazy idea. For the whole world to forgot something, especially in this era where everything relevant is recorded online, is outrageous. Written on his notebook the words [Global Brainwash?], Chris is still in a dilema.

The tip of his pen was hitting the paper from his nervousity.

(...Calm down. Let's think this straight. If this is real, how did this happen? Or even, if there is someone behind it, why would they lose time with something like a game?)

-But more importantly....-He whispers to himself.

Written below [Friend's pranking?] and [Global Brainwash], Chris wrote [Why me?].

(How is it that I'm the only one that wasn't caught up on this?)

That was the main questions that Chris thought. He is just a normal high-school boy. He lives with his mom and three pets, walks to the school in the morning and comes back home at noon. No clubs or part-time, mainly spending his free-time playing or studying or watching new series on Webflix. That is his life.

And yet, only he remembers about that game.

(As I thought, there is something weird here, but I can't explain what is it. This would make sense in a fiction, but in real life, this is looking like those conspiracy theo-)

-Chris Chambert!

-H-huh...Y-yes?!

Startled by the teacher's angry call, Chris stands up from his seat.

-Really, Mr. Chambert, I know school started the day after the snow storm passed, but if you are this cold for my lessons, you better be warmed up for the retake exam.

The class laughs at Chris after being called by the teacher.

-...as expected of him, right?

-...going all out even on the first day of school.

-...so glad I'm in his class.

-...I know, right? It's always funny with him around.

Mutters and whispers among his classmates.

(Even after two weeks without school, this still happens...)

Trying not to be bothered by it, he could still make a neutral expression over their voices.

-...Yes, I'm sorry. - He said, embarrassed, and returned to his seat.