**One Kick Girl — Chapter 159:
"Do Not Observe Directly"**
When attention becomes danger • The rule that fears being broken
1. The Aftertaste of Being Noted
Raon sneezed.
"…Okay that was weird."
Shion looked up sharply. "You don't sneeze."
"I KNOW," Raon snapped. "That's why I'm concerned."
The air around HQ felt normal—too normal—like a room after someone powerful just left without saying goodbye.
2. A Rule Appears Late
Shion's tablet chimed once.
Just once.
A red strip of text burned itself into the screen.
SYSTEM ADVISORY
DO NOT OBSERVE DIRECTLY
Shion frowned. "…That's not a warning."
Raon leaned over. "Yeah. That's a request."
They both felt it.
Something did not want eye contact.
3. The Cameras Turn Away
Across HQ, security feeds glitched.
Cameras rotated on their own. Sensors dimmed. Motion trackers shut off mid-scan.
Synthra Byte stared at her console. "Uh… why is everything choosing not to look?"
Yuno whispered, "Is… is reality shy now?"
Raon crossed her arms. "…Coward."
4. Looking Sideways
Shion exhaled slowly. "…Raon. Whatever that was—direct observation destabilizes it."
Raon blinked. "So… don't stare?"
"…Yes."
Raon immediately stared harder.
Nothing happened.
Raon frowned. "…Hey."
Shion grabbed her face and turned it away. "NOT like that!"
5. Peripheral Vision Only
The pressure returned—but sideways.
Like something standing just out of frame.
Not attacking.
Not testing.
Avoiding.
Raon smirked. "It's dodging."
Shion nodded grimly. "…Because if it's seen, it becomes part of the system."
Raon grinned. "And it hates that."
6. The Anti-Spotlight Entity
A shape passed behind Raon's shoulder.
Not visible.
But felt.
Like a thought you lose the moment you focus on it.
Shion whispered, "…It's enforcing the rule by existing wrong."
Raon cracked her knuckles. "…Cool. I exist wrong too."
7. The First Violation
Manager Kimchi walked in holding paperwork.
"Good news! Insurance says—"
He stopped.
Squinted.
"…Why does my brain hurt?"
Shion spun. "DON'T LOOK STRAIGHT—"
Too late.
Kimchi stared.
The air folded.
Kimchi vanished.
A sticky note fluttered down.
It read:
VIOLATION: DIRECT OBSERVATION
Raon stared at the note.
"…Rude."
8. Shion Understands
Shion's breath shook. "…It's not punishing curiosity."
Raon looked at her.
"…It's preventing definition."
Shion nodded. "If too many people see it… it becomes fixed."
Raon smirked. "…And fixed things can be kicked."
9. The Thing Notices Her Noticing
The sideways pressure sharpened.
Interest returned.
Not curiosity.
Caution.
Raon felt it.
"…It remembers me."
Shion swallowed. "…You broke a loop. It doesn't know how to ignore you."
Raon rolled her neck. "…Its problem."
10. A Threat Without Force
No attack came.
Instead—
Withdrawal.
Reality bent away from Raon.
Lights dimmed where she stood.
Space politely declined her presence.
Raon blinked. "…Is it ghosting me?"
Shion nodded slowly. "…Yes."
Raon scowled. "…I hate that."
11. The Rule Breaker Smiles
Raon stepped forward.
The distortion retreated.
She stepped again.
It recoiled.
Raon laughed. "Oh this is FUN."
Shion grabbed her arm. "Raon—don't chase it."
Raon grinned. "…Why not?"
"…Because if it panics—"
12. The Warning Repeats
The system flashed again.
Bigger.
Redder.
DO NOT OBSERVE DIRECTLY
DO NOT PURSUE
DO NOT DEFINE
Raon stopped.
Tilted her head.
"…Define?"
Shion whispered. "…Names. Shapes. Rules."
Raon's smile widened dangerously.
"…I love names."
13. Almost a Name
Raon spoke softly.
"Hey."
The sideways presence froze.
Raon continued, gentle.
"You're not a watcher."
Pressure spiked.
"You're not a judge."
Space trembled.
"…You're just scared of being seen."
Silence.
14. Retreat
The presence collapsed inward.
Not fleeing.
Hiding.
Reality smoothed.
Cameras resumed.
Kimchi did not return.
The rule faded.
Shion slumped against a wall. "…Raon. That was reckless."
Raon shrugged. "…It blinked again."
15. Somewhere Without Eyes
In a place without perception—
A rule rewrote itself.
Avoid subject Raon.
Indirect interaction only.
No direct observation.
A final note appeared.
She names things.
END OF CHAPTER 159