**One Kick Girl — Chapter 176:
"Action Items Assigned (Everyone Pretends to Understand)"**
Post-meeting confusion • Responsibility-based horror • Raon POV
1. The List Appears
The email arrived ten minutes after the meeting ended.
Subject line:
ACTION ITEMS & NEXT STEPS
Raon stared at it.
"…We never agreed on steps."
Shion nodded. "Correct."
Yuno leaned over. "That means someone invented them."
2. The Bullet Points of Doom
Raon opened the email.
A list unfolded.
– Raon: Explore potential solutions
– Shion: Align stakeholders
– Yuno: Provide input
– Everyone: Sync offline
Raon blinked.
"…What solution."
"To what," Shion added.
Yuno squinted. "'Provide input' is not a task."
3. The Ownership Trap
Raon scrolled.
A sentence glowed ominously:
Raon to take point.
Raon's soul left her body.
"I don't have points."
Shion whispered, "It means you're responsible."
"For WHAT."
"For the thing no one defined."
Raon screamed silently.
4. The Follow-Up Clock Starts
A calendar reminder appeared.
CHECK-IN: NEXT WEEK
Raon panicked.
"WHAT DO I CHECK IN WITH."
Shion answered calmly, "Confidence."
5. Everyone Pretends
Raon looked around HQ.
People nodded at her.
Encouraging nods.
Believing nods.
Nods of people who thought she understood.
Raon whispered, "…They think I know."
Yuno nodded. "They always think that."
6. Attempting the Task
Raon opened a document.
Title: Potential Solutions
She stared at the blank page.
Cursor blinking.
Judging her.
"…I could kick the problem."
Shion sighed. "We've discussed this."
7. Corporate Translation
Shion leaned over.
"Okay. 'Explore potential solutions' means: Ask questions. Write things down. Don't decide anything."
Raon blinked. "That's it?"
"Yes."
Raon relaxed slightly.
"I'm good at not deciding."
8. The Draft
Raon typed:
We are currently exploring several potential directions and will align on next steps.
She stared.
"…This says nothing."
Shion smiled. "Perfect."
9. Sending It
Raon hesitated.
"…What if they ask follow-ups."
"They will."
Raon whimpered.
"But," Shion added, "not today."
Raon hit send.
10. Immediate Validation
A reply came back.
Sounds good!
Raon collapsed into a chair.
"…I survived again."
Yuno patted her shoulder. "Fake competence is real competence."
11. Epilogue: The Next Trap
Raon's calendar buzzed.
BRAINSTORMING SESSION
Raon screamed.
Shion sighed. "Tomorrow."
Raon stared into the distance.
"I'm going to kick a whiteboard."
END OF CHAPTER 176