Chapter 1

Haruka stepped out of the cafe, his shift finally over. At 18, with messy black hair and brown eyes, he had the worn look of someone who'd seen more than their fair share of hardship. An orphan, he'd been kicked out of the orphanage a year ago and was now scraping by with part-time jobs, trying to save up for college.

It was a constant struggle, balancing his studies and work. The college entrance exam was in a week, and he needed to be ready. But Haruka was determined to make it, to prove he could make it on his own. After all, he'd learned a long time ago that the only person he could truly depend on was himself.

Haruka walks down the bustling city streets, his steps steady and purposeful. As he approaches the bank, his gaze is drawn to a vibrant advertisement on the nearby wall. The familiar Kamen Rider logo stands out, and Haruka can't help but pause, his eyes lingering on the image of the latest hero, Kamen Rider Gavv.

[Kamen Rider is a long-running Japanese superhero franchise that follows the adventures of masked heroes known as "Riders." These extraordinary individuals use powerful transformation devices, often called Drivers, to don incredible suits of armor and battle a variety of monstrous threats. Each Rider has their own unique abilities, motifs, and personal journeys, making every series a fresh take on the Kamen Rider legacy. Whether facing off against alien invaders, corrupt organizations, or their own inner demons, these heroes are bound by a common purpose: to protect humanity and uphold justice, no matter the cost.]

Growing up in the orphanage, Kamen Rider had been one of the few joys he could look forward to. Each Sunday, he'd sit glued to the TV, watching in awe as the heroic Riders transformed and battled against monstrous foes. Their stories of justice and sacrifice had always resonated with him, reminding Haruka that even the most ordinary person could become extraordinary.

Now, as he stood on the bustling city streets, Haruka couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. The Kamen Rider franchise had always represented a world of possibility, where individuals could rise up and protect the innocent, no matter the cost. It was a world he wished he could be a part of, where his own struggles and hardships could be overcome through the power of transformation and heroism.

With a wistful sigh, Haruka tore his gaze away from the advertisement and continued on his way, his steps steady and purposeful. The dreams of becoming a hero might have to wait, but he knew that one day, he'd find his own way to make a difference, just like the Riders he admired.

Haruka stepped into the bank, taking in the relatively sparse crowd. His gaze drifted to a little girl playing with her doll while her mother spoke to a bank teller. Steeling himself, Haruka approached an available teller.

"Welcome," the bank teller greeted him.

"I'd like to make a withdrawal," Haruka said, his voice level and matter-of-fact.

Haruka provides his bank details to the teller, who types them into the computer. As he waits, his eyes casually scan the bank, taking in the details of his surroundings.

Suddenly, the front doors burst open and a masked figure rushes in, waving a gun. "Everyone down on the ground! This is a robbery!" the robber shouts, voice muffled by the mask.

Haruka's body tenses, his heart pounding. He glances around, noting the panicked expressions of the other patrons as they hastily comply, dropping to the floor. The little girl he had noticed earlier clings to her mother, eyes wide with fear.

The robber stalks up to the teller's counter, gun trained on the employee. "Open the vault and fill the bag," the masked figure demands. "Hurry up!"

The teller's hands tremble as she fumbles with the keys, unlocking the vault. Haruka watches, torn between a desire to flee and a growing sense of unease.

Haruka watches in horror as the robber notices the teller pressing the silent alarm. "Hey, you!" the masked figure shouts, swinging the gun in the teller's direction.

Haruka's heart races as the robber opens fire, the deafening gunshots echoing through the bank. The teller ducks behind the counter, but a bullet catches her in the shoulder. She cries out in pain, crumpling to the floor.

The other patrons scream in terror, the little girl's cries cutting through the chaos. Haruka feels frozen, his mind racing as he tries to decide what to do. He glances around, searching for a way out, but the robber is blocking the exit.

Haruka's heart pounded as the little girl's cries echoed through the bank. He watched, frozen, as the robber swung his gun towards the terrified child.

"Shut up! Or else I'll put a bullet through your head!" the masked figure threatened.

Haruka felt his stomach twist with dread. He wanted to do something, anything, to protect the innocent girl, but fear kept him rooted to the spot. His mind raced, trying to find a way out of this nightmare.

Haruka's eyes dart to the terrified girl, her cries tearing at his heart. Without thinking, he rushes forward, adrenaline surging through him.

"Leave her alone!" he shouts, barreling towards the robber.

The masked figure turns, caught off guard, and Haruka slams into him, knocking the gun from his hand. They grapple, the robber's fingers clawing at Haruka's face as they wrestle for control of the weapon.

Haruka's mind races, all his focus on keeping the gun away from the innocent bystanders. He pushes the robber back, trying to gain the upper hand.

The gun clatters to the ground, and they both lunge for it. Haruka's fingers close around the grip just as the robber's hand closes over his. They wrestle, each trying to gain possession of the firearm.

Haruka grits his teeth, his muscles straining as he fights to keep the gun pointed away from the terrified onlookers. The robber's mask slips, and Haruka catches a glimpse of wild, desperate eyes.

"Let go!" the robber shouts, voice strained with effort.

Haruka refuses, determined to keep the gun out of the criminal's hands, no matter the cost.

Haruka felt a searing pain rip through his chest as the gun suddenly went off. He cried out, his grip on the weapon faltering for a split second. But through sheer force of will, he tightened his hold, refusing to let the robber reclaim the firearm.

In a last-ditch effort, Haruka squeezed the trigger, his eyes widening as the bullet struck the masked figure. The robber let out a strangled gasp, collapsing to the ground, the gun clattering from his limp fingers.

Haruka staggered, his vision blurring as he felt the warm, sticky blood seeping through his shirt. The adrenaline was fading, replaced by a searing agony that threatened to overwhelm him. He could hear the distant wail of sirens, but his focus was drawn to the small figure that rushed towards him.

"Onii-san, don't die!" the little girl cried, her eyes filled with tears as she knelt beside him. Haruka tried to speak, to reassure her, but all that came out was a weak, rattling cough.

The world was growing dim, the edges of his vision darkening. Haruka's grip on the gun slipped, the weapon falling from his fingers as he sank to the floor, his body trembling. The little girl's anguished sobs were the last thing he heard before the darkness claimed him.

...

Haruka's eyes flutter open, the bright hospital lights momentarily blinding him. The steady beeping of machines and the crisp, sterile scent of the room slowly come into focus. His body aches, a dull pain radiating from his shoulder.

"He's awake!" a nurse exclaims, rushing to Haruka's bedside. She presses a button, summoning a doctor. Haruka blinks, his mind racing as he tries to piece together what happened. The bank robbery, the struggle for the gun—it all comes flooding back.

"How...how am I alive?" Haruka croaks, his voice hoarse. The nurse gently places a straw to his lips, allowing him to take a sip of water.

"Try not to speak too much," the nurse says, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "The doctor will be here shortly to examine you."

Haruka nods weakly, his gaze darting around the room. The sterile, unfamiliar surroundings make him feel uneasy. Was he able to stop the robber? What happened to the young girl he tried to protect? A thousand questions swirl in his mind as he waits anxiously for the doctor's arrival.

The sound of hurried footsteps draws his attention to the doorway. A middle-aged man in a white coat strides in, clipboard in hand. He gives Haruka a reassuring smile.

"I'm glad to see you're awake, young man," the doctor says, moving closer to examine Haruka's vitals.

Haruka asked what had happened to him, and the doctor replied that Haruka had been in a car accident. Haruka was confused. He remembered getting shot in a bank, not a car accident.

"I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding," Haruka said, his brow furrowed. "I wasn't in a car accident. I was at a bank, and there was a robbery..."

The doctor's expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "I'm sorry, but that's not what the reports indicate. You were brought in after a serious car accident. You sustained significant injuries, including a wound to your shoulder."

Haruka shook his head, wincing at the pain. "No, that can't be right. I remember everything—the bank, the robber, the struggle for the gun." He paused, a realization dawning on him. "Where's the girl? The one I tried to protect. Is she okay?"

The doctor hesitated, his gaze turning sympathetic. "I'm afraid I don't have any information about a girl. The only person brought in with you was a young man who had been involved in a car accident."

Haruka's heart sank. Had he failed to save the girl? His memories felt so vivid, so real. He couldn't understand why the doctor was insisting that he had been in a car accident.

"There must be some mistake," Haruka insisted, his voice tinged with desperation. "I know what I saw, what I experienced. Please, you have to believe me."

The doctor's brow furrows with concern as he listens to Haruka's insistent recollection of the bank robbery. "It's possible you suffered a head injury during the accident," he says, his tone gentle but firm. "That could explain the discrepancy in your memories."

Haruka opens his mouth to protest, but the doctor raises a hand. "I'd like to run a few more tests, just to be sure there's no underlying trauma." He makes a note on the clipboard, his eyes scanning the information before him. "In the meantime, try to rest. Your parents will be here shortly."

As the doctor turns to leave, Haruka's heart sinks. Parents? He has no parents—he's an orphan, cast out of the system when he turned 18. The steady beeping of the machines fills the silence as Haruka's mind races, trying to make sense of the doctor's words.

A car accident? Parents on the way? None of it aligns with Haruka's memories of the bank robbery, the gun, the young girl he tried to protect. Surely he couldn't have imagined all of that, could he?

Haruka's fingers tighten around the crisp, white sheets, his knuckles turning pale. His gaze darts around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings once more. The sterile walls, the medical equipment—it all feels so foreign, so disconnected from the gritty reality he thought he knew.

"What's happening to me?" he whispers, the words barely audible even to himself. His mind is flooded with uncertainty, the foundation of his memories suddenly shifting beneath him. As the doctor's footsteps fade down the hallway, Haruka is left with more questions than answers, his sense of reality crumbling around him.

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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.