One Kick Girl — Chapter 46: "Surface Noise"
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1. Bureau HQ: The Aftermath of Absolute Nonsense
The Bureau's meeting room smelled like burnt seaweed and despair.
A hologram replayed the footage:
Raon, underwater, performing what could only be described as a dropkick rave apocalypse.
Every time the video looped, someone in the room sighed harder.
Manager Kimchi pinched the bridge of his nose.
> "So. Let me get this straight. You—"
"—kicked a soundwave until the ocean flipped," Shion said flatly, holding a towel over her drenched hair.
"Right. Thank you, Shion. That clears up nothing."
Raon leaned back in her chair, sipping instant coffee from a mug that read 'World's Most Tired Disaster.'
> "In my defense," she said calmly, "the ocean started it."
Kimchi blinked. "How—how does an ocean start it?"
Raon shrugged. "Vibes."
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2. HR Tries Its Best (and Fails)
Across the table, HR Officer Beanie—an overworked celestial with too many clipboards—spoke up.
> "According to Section 13, Subclause B, unauthorized environmental remodeling counts as a Class-A Bureau infraction."
Raon tilted her head. "So… like interior design?"
> "Mass ocean inversion is not interior design!"
Shion tried to intervene.
> "Sir, technically Raon's resonance frequency prevented global harmonic collapse. Theoretically, she saved the world—again."
Beanie tapped his pen.
> "By accidentally inventing bubble emojis that can sing K-pop. I fail to see the heroism."
Raon smiled faintly.
> "You're just jealous they harmonized better than you."
The pen snapped in Beanie's hand.
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3. Manager Kimchi's Meltdown
Kimchi stood, waving his arms wildly.
> "Do you have any idea what I've been dealing with since that 'incident'? We've had twelve complaints from oceanographers, four lawsuits from the tuna union, and the moon's orbit is now one millisecond behind schedule!"
Raon nodded solemnly. "So... a Tuesday."
Shion buried her face in her hands.
> "She's not taking this seriously again."
> "Of course she isn't!" Kimchi shouted. "Last time we gave her a warning, she framed it and used it as a coaster!"
Raon: "Still holds coffee fine."
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4. Baron Silence Speaks (Sort Of)
From the corner of the room, Baron Silence raised a hand.
Everyone froze.
He held up a handwritten sign: [SHE DID GOOD.]
Kimchi's eyelid twitched.
> "Baron, you can't just—"
Baron flipped the sign: [ALSO COOL KICK.]
Raon gave him a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, bro."
Shion whispered, "Why does he even have those signs ready?"
Baron slowly raised another: [FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS.]
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5. The Verdict
After three hours of yelling, paperwork, and one brief intermission where HR needed a stress donut, the Bureau delivered their ruling.
> "Raon of the One Kick Division," Beanie announced, "for gross misuse of resonance powers, environmental distortion, and dance-based destruction, you are hereby placed on—"
Raon yawned.
> "—temporary probation. You are not to engage in combat until further notice."
Raon blinked. "You mean… paid vacation?"
Kimchi froze. "Wait, no, it's not—"
Raon was already gone.
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6. The Paid Vacation Arc Begins
By the time Kimchi finished yelling, Raon and Shion were already at a beach cafe—ironically the one overlooking the crater she created.
Shion sipped an iced tea, trying to relax.
> "We're supposed to be suspended. No fighting, no missions." Raon nodded, sunhat on, sipping her own drink.
"Cool. I'm fighting the urge to do anything."
Shion squinted at her.
> "You do realize this is exactly why the Bureau loses budget every year?"
Raon smirked.
> "Not my fault I'm their main expense and main defense."
In the distance, the waves hummed faintly — a leftover resonance, still rippling from her kick.
A seagull began beatboxing.
Shion sighed.
> "It's spreading again, isn't it?"
Raon leaned back.
> "Maybe. But hey—at least the ocean's got rhythm now."