POV: Raon foreground, Shion strategic omniscience.
**One Kick Girl — Chapter 131:
"Public Enemy / Public Favorite"**
You can't cancel a hurricane—but you can try to name it.
1. Morning, According to the Internet
Raon woke up to Shion slamming a tablet onto her face.
"OW."
"Congratulations," Shion said flatly.
"You're trending."
Raon blinked.
"…Good trending or stabby trending?"
Shion scrolled.
#KICKGIRLFOREVER
#CONTROLONEKICKGIRL
#LET_HER_KICK
#ARRESTTHEFOOT
#PROTECTOURHURRICANE
Raon stared.
"…Why is my foot a political issue?"
2. News, But Worse
Every screen lit up.
A news anchor smiled the smile of someone who had never fought anything.
"—public opinion is sharply divided.
Is One Kick Girl a heroic force of nature…
or an unregulated threat?"
Footage played:
Raon saving a bus. Raon destroying a monster. Raon accidentally kicking a satellite dish. Raon accidentally kicking a different satellite dish.
Raon groaned.
"That second one was already broken."
3. Committees Discover Fear
A government panel convened.
Titles everywhere.
None useful.
"She destabilizes structures."
"She stabilizes morale."
"She breaks stuff."
"She saves people."
A man cleared his throat.
"Can we sue her?"
Silence.
"…No."
4. Merch Happens Immediately
Outside HQ, a crowd gathered.
Signs:
LET HER KICK
MY TAXES PAID FOR THAT KICK
ONE KICK, ONE HOPE
Someone sold T-shirts.
Someone sold foam feet.
Someone sold foam Shion heads.
Shion stared in horror.
"…Why do I have merchandise?"
Raon grinned.
"You're marketable."
"I hate this timeline."
5. The Attempted Narrative
A new headline dropped:
"One Kick Girl: A Reckless Variable"
Raon frowned.
"That's mean."
Shion read deeper.
"They're trying to define you before you define yourself."
Raon cracked her knuckles.
"Can I kick the article?"
"No."
"…Can I kick the author?"
"Also no."
Raon sighed.
"I hate rules."
6. The City Chooses (Quietly)
A siren wailed downtown.
Not an attack.
A building collapse—old, unstable.
Emergency crews delayed. Paperwork jammed.
Raon was already moving.
Shion didn't stop her.
Raon arrived.
Kicked once.
The building didn't explode.
It settled.
People stared.
Phones lifted.
A kid shouted:
"THAT'S HER!"
Applause broke out.
Not cheering.
Relief.
7. The Narrative Cracks
Clips spread faster than statements.
Side-by-side videos:
Bureaucrats debating. Raon acting.
Poll numbers shifted.
Comments changed.
She doesn't ask permission.
She just helps.
That's the point.
Shion watched metrics spike.
"…They're not defending you," she murmured. "They're claiming you."
Raon blinked.
"Like a cat?"
"…Yes. And cats don't belong to anyone."
8. Vale Watches From Afar
Mr. Vale stood in a quiet room.
Screens showed:
Cheers. Memes. Merch. Children mimicking kicks.
An aide asked nervously, "Should we intervene?"
Vale shook his head.
"No."
"But sir—"
"You don't fight symbols," Vale said softly. "You survive them."
9. The Question No One Asked Out Loud
That night, Raon sat on a rooftop.
City lights blinked.
Shion joined her.
"You okay?"
Raon shrugged.
"…What if I mess up?"
Shion answered immediately.
"You will."
Raon frowned.
"That's not comforting."
Shion smiled gently.
"And you'll fix it.
That's why they trust you."
Raon leaned back.
"…I didn't ask for this."
"No one ever does," Shion said. "Leadership just… happens to people who act."
10. Stinger: A New Problem
Deep in the city, something stirred.
Not digital. Not bureaucratic.
Physical.
Ancient.
A seismic sensor pinged.
Once. Twice.
Then screamed.
A voice echoed from the dark:
"THEY CHEER A KICKER."
"LET THEM SEE A GOD."
Raon stood.
"…Did you feel that?"
Shion's screen flashed red.
"Yes."
Raon smiled.
"Good."
END OF CHAPTER 131