Chapter 3

Haruka's fingers moved across the screen of the unfamiliar smartphone, swiping through the countless photographs. His brow furrowed as he took in the images – images of himself smiling and laughing alongside the couple who claimed to be his parents. Yet, despite the warmth and familiarity captured in those moments, Haruka felt a profound sense of disconnect.

As he continued scrolling, his gaze landed on a photograph that immediately grabbed his attention. There, in vivid detail, was an image of a figure soaring through the sky, his red cape billowing behind him. Haruka's eyes widened in recognition.

"Superman," he murmured, his voice laced with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. Surely, this had to be some kind of cosplay or special effects – there was no way this could be real.

Haruka's fingers moved swiftly, scrolling through more images. To his astonishment, he found photographs of other costumed figures – a dark-clad vigilante with pointed ears, a woman adorned in regal armor, a being made of green energy, and a figure with a green, angular face.

"Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter," Haruka whispered, the names slipping from his lips as if he had known them all along. And yet, as he stared at the images, he couldn't shake the feeling that these were not mere costumed individuals, but something far more extraordinary.

Haruka's heart raced as he continued to examine the photographs, his mind trying to reconcile the fantastical images with the reality he had woken up to. Were these images real, or were they part of some elaborate hoax or delusion?

The young man's fingers trembled slightly as he scrolled through the gallery, his eyes searching for any indication that these were merely costumes or special effects. But the level of detail, the way the figures seemed to defy the laws of physics, left Haruka with a growing sense of unease and wonder.

Haruka's fingers tapped furiously against the screen as he navigated to the news app on the unfamiliar smartphone. His eyes scanned the headlines, each one more unbelievable than the last.

"Superman once again saves the day."

"Batman thwarts Joker's plot to destroy Gotham."

"Wonder Woman rescues hostages."

"Flash stops three bank robberies in an hour."

Haruka's breath caught in his throat as the reality of the situation began to sink in. These were not mere stories or works of fiction – they were real, documented events taking place in the world around him.

He scrolled further, stumbling upon an article detailing a massive, city-wide battle. The headline read: "Justice League Unites to Defeat the Alien Invasion on Earth."

Haruka's heart raced as he read the account of the heroes coming together to face off against this Darkseid, a being described as a tyrannical, god-like villain from another world. The article mentioned the formation of the Justice League, a team of the world's most powerful heroes, banding together to protect the planet.

Haruka's mind was reeling. He had grown up watching Kamen Rider, a beloved superhero franchise, but the events unfolding before him were on an entirely different scale. This was not fiction – this was reality. Superheroes, aliens, and cosmic threats were all part of the world he now found himself in.

Haruka's fingers trembled as he continued to read the news, his understanding of the world he had once known crumbling around him. He was no longer in the mundane life he had grown accustomed to – he was in the DC Universe, a place where the extraordinary was the norm.

Haruka's fingers trembled as he continued scrolling through the unfamiliar smartphone, his mind reeling from the implications of what he had discovered. The images and headlines before him painted a reality that was so vastly different from the world he had known.

Weakly, Haruka laughed, the sound barely more than a raspy exhalation. He couldn't help but marvel at the absurdity of his situation. He had died from a bullet wound, only to be reincarnated into the very world he had once thought existed only in fiction.

Haruka's gaze drifted to the photograph of the figure in the red cape, the one he had recognized as Superman. If these heroes were real, then the DC Universe he had once known as a mere fantasy was now his reality. And if that was the case, then the Haruka who had lived this life before him – the one who had been in the car accident – was likely no longer here.

Haruka swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He was now occupying the same body and identity as the Haruka who had come before him, a person he knew nothing about. The weight of that realization settled heavily upon him, and he couldn't help but wonder what had become of the original Haruka.

Haruka's gaze shifted to the mirror across the room, his eyes narrowing as he took in his reflection. The face staring back at him was undoubtedly his own, but there was a subtle difference that he couldn't quite place.

As he moved closer to the mirror, he realized what it was – the body he now inhabited was not as strong or well-built as the one he remembered from his previous life. The DC Haruka's frame seemed leaner, lacking the defined musculature he had cultivated through years of fighting and training.

Haruka's fingers traced the outline of his arm, feeling the lack of the familiar bulk and strength. He frowned, a twinge of disappointment flickering in his chest. In his old world, he had taken pride in his physical prowess, using it to defend himself and others when necessary.

Stepping back, Haruka examined his reflection more closely. The DC Haruka's body was indeed skinnier, with less pronounced muscle definition. Haruka couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over him. If he was to navigate this new and extraordinary world, he would need to be prepared – both mentally and physically.

Haruka's eyes narrowed in determination as he made a silent vow. He would need to train, to push his body to its limits and rebuild the strength he had once possessed.

Haruka's fingers returned to the smartphone, swiping through the images of the Justice League members once more. He studied their faces, their costumes, and the powers they possessed, his mind still struggling to reconcile the reality of their existence.

The man in the red and blue suit, flying effortlessly through the sky, had to be Superman – the same hero he had seen in the photographs. Haruka's brow furrowed as he tried to imagine what it would be like to possess such incredible abilities. The thought of being able to soar above the city, to move with superhuman speed and strength, was both exhilarating and daunting.

His gaze shifted to the brooding figure cloaked in black, the one known as Batman. Haruka couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with this mysterious hero, despite the stark contrast in their abilities. The idea of using one's intelligence, skill, and technology to fight against evil resonated with Haruka, who had always prided himself on his problem-solving abilities.

Haruka's fingers traced the image of the regal woman in the golden armor, her eyes filled with a fierce determination. Wonder Woman, the Amazon warrior princess, embodied a strength and grace that Haruka found both inspiring and intimidating. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to wield such power and command the respect of an entire nation.

As he scrolled through the other members of the Justice League – the Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg – Haruka felt a growing sense of awe and uncertainty. These were not just characters in a comic book or a television show; they were real, living, breathing heroes who had sworn to protect the world from the most extraordinary threats.

Haruka's heart raced as he contemplated the implications of this discovery. If the Justice League and their adversaries were real, then the entire world he had once known was turned upside down. He had been thrust into a reality where the impossible was possible, where the line between fantasy and reality had been blurred beyond recognition.

Haruka swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He had so many questions, so many uncertainties about this new world he found himself in. How had he ended up here? What had happened to the original Haruka? And most importantly, how was he supposed to navigate this extraordinary reality?

Haruka's brow furrowed as he considered his next steps. All he had ever wanted was a stable life, and now he found himself thrust into a world where the extraordinary was the norm. The idea of having blood-related parents after a lifetime of being an orphan still felt strange and unsettling.

Yet, despite the overwhelming revelations, Haruka clung to the hope that he could find a sense of stability in this new reality. Whatever the Justice League did, whatever cosmic threats they faced, he believed it was none of his business. His focus would be on building a life for himself, on carving out a sense of normalcy in this extraordinary world.

Haruka's eyes widened in surprise as a floating blue screen suddenly materialized before him. He instinctively reached out to touch it, but his fingers passed through the ethereal surface as if it were a mirage.

Startled, Haruka nevertheless maintained his composure, his gaze fixed intently on the screen. Words began to appear, as if written by an invisible hand.

"Hello, Host. Congratulations on awakening the Kamen Rider System."

Haruka's brow furrowed as he read the message. "Kamen Rider System?" he murmured, the unfamiliar term rolling off his tongue.

"What the hell?" Haruka said, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and apprehension. This was the last thing he had expected to encounter amidst the revelations of the DC Universe and his own uncertain situation.

The blue screen flickered, and more text materialized.

"I am Ada, the artificial intelligence that oversees the Kamen Rider System. You have been chosen as its new Host."

Haruka's eyes narrowed as he processed this information. "Chosen? What do you mean, chosen?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

The screen responded with a series of concise statements. "The Kamen Rider System is a powerful tool that allows its Host to access the abilities and equipment of various Kamen Riders from a parallel universe. As the new Host, you have the opportunity to redeem and utilize these resources to aid in your journey."

Haruka felt a growing sense of unease. "A parallel universe? What is this, some kind of game?" he asked, his voice betraying his discomfort.

The screen remained impassive, the words appearing with a clinical precision.

"This is no game, Host. The Kamen Rider System is a real and powerful tool that can help you navigate the challenges of the DC Universe. I am here to assist you in unlocking its full potential."

Haruka's mind raced as he tried to make sense of this unexpected development. The DC Universe was already a revelation beyond his wildest dreams, and now he was being presented with the prospect of accessing the abilities of Kamen Riders, characters he had once believed to be fictional.

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Give Power Stones so I can continue to write this story. If it does not gain any interest, I will drop it.