It was a burning day in August. The summer of my second year of high school was coming to an end. People visiting Tokyo have begun traveling back home. The streets seemed much more empty than usual... It was a tad bit unsettling, to be honest.

My cousin Naoya, who I had been living with until a few years ago, suddenly hit me up out of nowhere, asking me to meet him outside 901 in Shibuya at three o'clock today.

"Hey, Kazuya! Over here!" A boy carrying a laptop ran up to me, the sunlight shining too brightly behind him. I knew who it was before I could even make out his face. His name was Atsuro Kihara, one of my best friends from school.

"Yo, how's it going? Oh, real nice of Naoya to make us meet him outside on a hot day like this isn't it?" he asked, sarcasm dripping from his remark and a few beads of sweat dripping from his forehead as he came to a stop in front of me.

("Uh, yeah, 'bout that, you think you could meet Naoya and me at, hmm, say, 15:00, in front of the 901 building? We need to give you something.")

...Hmm? What?

"So, how's your summer been? We usually meet at school, so it feels like it's been forever! Is everything good?"

I gave him a slightly hesitant grin. "Yeah, I suppose." He didn't seem to hear anything a moment ago.

He eyes sparkled. "Ah, that's the Kazuya I know! Young guys like us need to be full of energy! Still, I couldn't think of anything to do, so I spent all day on my laptop. Ahahah!" He rubbed the back of his head, smiling that same old smile of his. Something about this whole event all felt a little... nostalgic? Hm, wait, no, that can't be it. Déjà vu, perhaps?

"This is great timing though, man," he continued. "I just ran into this problem with my coding. It has me completely stumped, so I was about to go ask Naoya if he could help..."

("Hah, exciting. Well, whatever it is, can't wait to see it. This is great timing, actually. I ran into some problems with my coding on that site I'm making.")

("Oh, the social site for otakus?")

I feel like I'm hearing things...

"Oh, there you are! I've been looking for you guys!" A girl's voice shook me out of my thoughts. Another one of my good friends, Yuzu Tanikawa, ran up beside us.

Atsuro's eyes began to sparkle again. "Hey, here comes Yoohoo!"

She huffed and frowned. "Don't call me 'Yoohoo'! My name is YUZU! Ugh, will you stop calling me that stupid nickname!? Even boys at school call me 'Yoohoo', and it's your fault!"

("DON'T call me that.")

What is...?

"Aw, c'mon, it isn't that bad! It's a friendly nickname! And it's not just our class. Some of the teachers actually think your name is 'Yoohoo.'"

"That's because people like you keep calling me that!"

"Hahah, it's working!"

I tried to ask where Naoya was, but nothing came out. I felt like I was choking, but I didn't feel any kind of pain, if that even makes sense. I attempted to grab their attention, but I couldn't move either. I felt like a doll, unable to move unless acted upon by some force. I knew that if I were to be shoved, I probably would just fall straight down without even trying to keep myself up. I hate this. I have no idea what's going on, and yet, I feel oddly calm.

That strange feeling was getting stronger. I've been through this before. Most of this.

"Oh, by the way, where's Naoya, anyway? Did you see him?" Atsuro asked, as if reading my mind.

"Huh...? Oh, that's right! I ran into Naoya a moment ago, and he asked me to give these to Kazu and you. He said that something's come up, and he won't be able to make it."

"Aww, what's up with that? Naoya stood us up! Wait, what did he want you to give us?"

("Ah, Yuzu, great timing! You're going to see Atsuro, correct?")

("Ohohoh, they're just little gifts from us to you! Tell Atsuro something's come up, and we can't make it, would you? Have fun, and be cautious when turning those on!")

Dammit, why am I hearing these things? What ARE these things? I can't say they sound totally foreign, but...

"Here, take them. They were a pain to carry around in my bag, too." Yuzu opened her bag.

Atsuro looked at the contents. "Naoya gave you these?"

"Yep. Aren't these those Communication Player things? I've seen commercials for them before. They're like, "Play with people around the world!""

Atsuro seemed impressed. "Oh, you know about them, Yoohoo? That's exactly what these are. The name "Communication Player" is a real mouthful, so people just call them COMPs. They have email and a web browser, so they're more like cellphones than game systems."

"Ah, huh... Is that so? Naoya said, "You'll all need these. Don't let go of them."

("Here, take these with you. You're going to need them, so don't let get of them!")

Shut up already...

"Eh? "You'll all need"...? Well, there are three of them... Still, why would we need these? I mean, I've got a COMP back at my own- Huh?" He opened a COMP, the blue one, and stared at it in wonder.

They kept on talking. I couldn't do anything. I could only watch. I've definitely seen this before. This whole scene. Haven't I? No, I have. Yes, I didn't. This isn't...? No. No, no, this is... this is right. Those voices, though... No. Those shouldn't... I shouldn't be hearing those. They don't belong. Things are different. Something is wrong.

"What the...? I've never seen this menu. Did he homebrew this?"

"What...? Do you mean he made this himself? Is that even possible?"

(No, we got them from-)

Yes, Naoya's been working on the-

"Huh? Don't you know, Yoohoo? Naoya's famous among us programmers. He's a genius! Something like this would be no problem for him. He even made a whole furry website in a few hours!"

I looked up, eyes wide, vaguely realizing I had regained the ability to move my body. They didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, yeah? Fur Affinity, right? I heard the owner didn't even give him credit for that! At least he got paid."

(That's true.) That isn't true. (I remember watching him programming it that day.) Naoya isn't a furry, he wouldn't take a stupid job like that, no matter how much he would get paid.

"Ah, wait, teehee, oh, you told us that story, didn't you Kazu~? I totally forgot," Yuzu giggled, looking at me. I guess I looked normal.

Atsuro turned to me. "Hey, is it true he also helped with Equestria After Dark?"

I couldn't reply. My legs gave out underneath me with no warning. The sky became red the moment I hit the ground. My surroundings were different. It seemed like just an empty plaza. I glanced upwards. Atsuro and Yuzu were gone. In their place was the guy on the Rick Roll video and that Pop-Tart cat, the one that poops rainbows.

"Wha, what the hell is...?" I whispered, my voice finally coming back to me. I crawled backwards, my gaze aimed firmly at the two in front me.

The Rick Roll guy began singing his namesake. "We're no strangers to love, you know the rules, and so do I..."

The Pop-Tart cat began flying laps around me, chanting, "Nyanyanyanyanyanyan..." over and over and over.

"What... why... wha- IYEEE!" I jumped as I subsequently hit a wall.

More... things showed up. A dinosaur- lizard?- creature walked by onto the concrete, muttering philosophical ideas under it's breath. Potatoes and bacon were- flying above head?! Two llamas ran past us with police chasing after them. A buff blonde man stood in the center of the plaza, singing 4 Non Blondes's "What's Up." A cartoonish unicorn with a flowing mane and wings trotted to the right, a blush sprawled across its face as it screamed out inappropriate jokes. Across from us was a monster I couldn't even begin to describe that slowly slinked by murmuring "Drr...drr...drr..."

A regular, honestly out of place shiba inu ran up to me, huffing and puffing as he licked my hand. I looked down at the dog, who in turn looked up at me with the cute puppy eyes. I forgot about my situation for a split second as I pet the dog on head. All of my worries came flooding back as the dog ran off after saying, "Wow, such pet, much good."

I shut my eyes, throwing my hands onto my ears as I tried to block out all of the chaos.

This all seems so foreign, yet so familiar at the same time. I know what these are. They're those... oh, what are they called? It's an internet thing...

This shouldn't be happening. I should be on my throne. We killed Him, right? This day happened months ago! The first day, no, the day before the ordeal even began. This is just a dream, right? It doesn't really feel like that. It's just like everything has been...

...reset?

I... am the Overlord, right?

(I... am the Memelord, right?)

"Ohoh, looks like someone finally remembered something. Too bad it'll only last here!"

Another voice began speaking, but this one wasn't in my head. It sounded so close. It was definitely real. I knew that voice, and yet, I couldn't figure out who it belonged to. I heard the flapping of wings in the sky above, but nothing was there when I looked up. Well, nothing besides flying food and a few left behind feathers. I closed my eyes once again.

"My apologies! I can't spoil this for you~! You'll only be able to see me once you realize who I am! Or rather, who I truly am," the voice stated in a light, mocking tone.

("I take it that you don't remember either? Though I can't see why you would...")

("Remember what?")

I repeatedly splayed my fingers and clenched them. A nervous tic.

"I can't even get a hint?" I asked, irritated.

The voice laughed once again. "None, sorry! It isn't really necessary, since you already know of me. Sadly, you've forgotten all that I've done in the last run through," the voice faked a sniffle, as if trying to gain my pity. "Oh well. It makes my plans easier. Ah, you should have seen your brother's face right before this all began! Heehee, he said I was the only one he could turn to at the time. He must have really been desperate~! Even when he knows that he'll eventually get another chance... Ahahah, it's great seeing him like this!"

My... brother? I don't have a-

"Mweehee, whoops! Much too early for that line! Sorry, you'll figure that one out later."

I grit my teeth. "What did you do? What is happening?! Why can't I remember anything?!" The discord in front of me grew louder and louder as I bombarded the voice with questions. I looked at my feet and scowled. "Bastard..."

"Eheh~! You think I did this! I was simply lucky enough to be one of the few to remember is all. I didn't do anything to him. A higher entity is pulling the strings here, and I must say, I have to thank them for this! I haven't had this much entertainment in a while."

"Stop fucking with me."

"Ah," he continued, seemingly ignoring me, "but that is something for a later date. What all do you remember yourself, dearest Kazuya? You've seemed to have recollected many things thus far. So, tell me everything that's happened right before now." The sound of wings flapping grew closer.

What I remember? "Tch ...It's blurry... The events of the week of the ordeal are crystal clear, for the most part. I became King of Bel, I know that for sure. What exactly happened on the sixth and seventh days is a bit hazy. I think I can remember the fifth day. On the eighth day, Atsuro, Naoya, Kaido, and I defeated Metatron at the Shinobazu Pond. There were... others with us. I left for the demon world to prepare for the fight against God afterwards. Then..."

"Then?"

"Ugh..."

"What happened next?" I heard footsteps.

I bit my lip and furrowed my brow. "I-I don't know! I... can't recall anything after that... I told you, it's blurry."

"Ahahah~! Well, it'll all come back to you in due time! Or, maybe not." The voice was really starting to piss me off.

I rubbed my temples. "Ugh, I feel like I've just been sleeping until now. I think I'm getting a headache," I groaned.

"Perhaps you have been sleeping. Or, perhaps you are asleep now! Oh, who knows?" The footsteps were getting closer.

He could have said that in a less irritating way, but that is something to think about. Am I... dreaming? That doesn't make sense, I'm fully conscious right now! ...Aren't I? I could just be lucid, but this seemed all too real.

The footsteps stopped just as they got right next to me. Next came the sound of someone falling, rather, someone being shoved harshly into the ground, followed by a grunt.

"Oof..!"

That piqued my interest. I opened my eyes and saw a cloud of dust to the left of me.

"Oops, looks like my time is-GRRK! HNGG- AH!"

For a split second, I didn't hear a thing.

I heard one last hoarse chuckle. "A piece of advice, sweetest, eheheh, Kazuya. The only way to win this war is by gaining back control. You may want to hurry, you only have a week left. Things are different this time. The real fun is only just beginning. Ta Ta- ACK!" There was pounding on the pavement.

"Huh? Wha-what the hell is that supposed to mean?! What's wrong?! Hey, wait-!"

shorter chapter. just a dream, or maybe not. he'll wake up after this, or maybe not. everything is fine, or maybe not.

I should be getting Break Record tomorrow, so who knows when the next chapter will be. I HAVE started on it already, though.