My mom told me a story when I was four years old. It was about a forest that connected lives together. A place where different universes coexisted.

But it would only work if the person believed it could. 

You see there's an old urban legend that different choices would lead to different outcomes. Whenever you choice you selected, an alternate version of yourself would also pick the option or options. 

Don't quite understand? 

Let's say for example I was choosing between a mikan and a banana. If I were to pick the mikan, then according to legend another version of me in a different universe would pick banana.

A whole different reality from the one I live right now. Although, I don't need to live in another reality. I have my girlfriend, I have a good job, I have everything I could ever want!

But what if I didn't actually have all of that?

You see, the legend only occurs when there are significant changes you can pick. So the banana and mikan example doesn't count.

The main character in that story proceeded to enter the forest believing his Grandma's words of wisdom. They were stunned to see that his friends from those alternate universes were different in some ways. 

Some had a certain hair style, others were more muscular. Showing the changes that his alternative self had achieved.

But did you know I too found that forest?

A place where you can see the choices you made in an alternative universe under the cherry blossoms in the spring. 

I was just taking a jog through a part I wasn't familiar with. I spotted a beautiful forest of cherry blossoms that seemed to never end.

The further I ran through the bigger the place seemed to get. Until I spotted a figure sitting on the bench. 

"Shizuko!" Chika called.

"Uh... Chika what are you doing here?"

"Isn't this where we said to meet for our date?"

I paused, a little taken aback. "Wait, you and I are dating?"

She pouted, "Haha, very funny." 

Another person tapped me on the shoulder, "There you are!" You grinned.

"What's going on?" I said confused.

"Aren't ya happy to see your girlfriend?" she winked.

"Girlfriend?" Chika raised an eyebrow, "I'm his girlfriend."

"You're both wrong," Riko interrupted, "You see it's me."

"Let's let Shizuko decide!" 

"Um, eh... what the heck is going on?" I tilted my head to the side. "Uh... give me a sec." I walked about a hundred feet from the group.

I heard a little bit of conversation from the others, "I thought you guys said you were busy?"

"No you guys said you were busy, I already told you it was my date with Shizuko."

"Nope, I texted you all in the group chat that I was meeting Shizuko right here." Riko held out her phone.

"That's weird, I didn't get that..." You checked again.

"Yeah, me too..." 

I walked a little further, now the third years showed up.

"Oi Shizuko! You're late!" Kanan yelled at me. "It's impolite to keep your girlfriend waiting!"

"Thanks for being worried about my boyfriend, but I can scold him for myself." Mari said pulling me into a hug.

"What do you mean 'my boyfriend' Shizuko's mine." Dia also joined in.

At this point I needed an explanation from everyone, but it was cut off by the first years arguing over me.

"Let go Ruby!"

"EVERYBODY STOP!" I yelled finally. They all turned their heads to face me. "What are you all talking about being my girlfriend? I only have one..."

"Who is it?!" They all said at the same time.

"I- um, you see... I don't remember okay!"

"WHAT?!"

"How do you not remember your own girlfriend?!" Hanamaru said angrily.

"I didn't know you were this dense!" Dia face palmed.

"You've got to be joking!" Chika shook me.

"Well I- it was definitely one of you guys." I pointed out.

"IT BETTER BE!" Mari yelled.

"Okay okay okay... let me think. How can I tell which one is my girlfriend? I got it!" I said excitedly, "Tell me something we talked about on a date!"

"You said you'd carry me through the tough times in life!" Ruby recalled.

"That's it!" I pointed. "That's exactly what I said, it's Ruby."

"Wait! But you told me I made a dumb cliché reference!" Hanamaru added.

"..." I paused, "That's also true!" 

Everyone groaned. I was getting so confused right now. That's when I remembered the story...

The main character actually had his alternative universes in him as well. 

So basically... SJDRPIWEJREWJFINSNSPFEJPOWJNNSLJNFALJ

"Time out Daddy!" 

I paused. "What's up kiddo?"

"Is this story true?"

"Ask your mother."

"I will after you finish the story!"

"Okay okay okay... Where was I?"

So basically... SJDRPIWEJREWJFINSNSPFEJPOWJNNSLJNFALJ

I got them all to be quiet, "Guys... I have something to tell you." 

"What's wrong?"

"You're all not supposed to be here."

"Yes we understand that, but what does that have to do with everyone trying to get with you?"

"I don't know how to put it this way... but only one of you guys belongs in this world."

"Shizuko are you okay, did you bump your head somewhere?" Yoshiko felt my head.

"I'm sorry... but I unfortunately must go meet my real girlfriend. And the only way to do this... is by leaving the forest to send you all back where you came from."

"Yeah he's going mentally insane..." Kanan sighed.

"WAIT I GET IT!" Mari screamed. "HE'S SAYING WE DON'T BELONG HERE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FROM HIS UNIVERSE!"

"EXACTLY!" I high-fived her. "Sorry you guys... but to be honest I want to see my which one of you is mine in this reality."

"Wait Shizuko-"

I took off... escaping from those cherry trees and landing back in familiar territory. It took me a little while to get back home since I reran the route I was jogging in the first place.

Arriving I ran through the front door, "I'm home." I called.

"Welcome back." nine different voices answered me.

"What took you so long?" Ruby eyed me suspiciously. 

"I just went back the long way." I explained, "You would not believe the day I am having. Also why are you all here?"

"Because we wanted to ask you what day it was." Riko chimed in. 

"Day? It's a Sunday I have no work..."

"All we're trying to ask is what date is it!" Kanan ran out of patience, "Jesus Christ it's as if you're as dense as ever."

"Date? Um... it's the fifteenth of September." 

"Did something important happen on the fifteenth of September?" You hinted.

"You know something life changing?" Yoshiko continued.

"Uh... was that five yen ramen day at the store? Cause that was life changing!" 

"No you idiot!" Chika punched me in the stomach, "We're talking about seven years ago!"

"Um... school?"

Mari took a deep breath, "WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DAY WE MET YOU!"

"Ohhhh..." I nodded, "Yep that makes a lot more sense now... so what does this have anything to do with today?"

"Well we wanted to have a little fun with you so we all got together and made you believe we were all dating you."

"Wait... so you mean-"

"Shizuko, you know it's not hard to change contacts in your phone right?" 

"But what about what I said to that individual person only-"

"You wrote a whole book on this story!" they face palmed.

"But that only leaves one question!"

"What?"

"Which one of you am I actually dating?"

"Me, duh." they said at the same time.

They stared at each other a long time...

"WAIT WAIT WAIT!" Chika interrupted. "THAT LAST PART NEVER HAPPENED!"

"It can if I want it too!" I smiled, making the other ten laugh. "Isn't that right,

Shizuko Jr.?"

"But Daddy! Who were actually dating?" my ten year old son's eyes widened.

"Your mom duh..." I winked, "Or maybe it was one of your aunt's..."

Context: (I didn't want to put this before because I felt like it would spoil the whole story or whatever) Shizuko is now a father with his ten year old son, Shizuko Jr. He tells him and all the other girls a story of something that happened seven years ago when he was dating Shizuko Jr.'s mom or Shizuko's wife (it's up to you to decide who it is).

Alright this is the bonus chapter I've been working on the past two months to write. Although most of it wasn't written until this past week, it took about a month for me to figure out what kind of story I'd make the bonus chapter.

It's not necessarily canon... but then again if you all want it to be canon to the story then by all means go ahead. I just felt like writing using a different story idea.

Also the urban legend was all made up by yours truly! Hope you all enjoyed it as it did take a long time to think of and there were maybe like three drafts of it. Just your friendly reminder that three drafts doesn't mean it was good :)

Anyways that's it from me! I think I'm now completely done with this book unless I make another bonus chapter... 

But just in case this is the final time... canon or not let's all say it together.

Be safe! Mask up! Don't be stupid! (Love ya guys)

-Kazuya