1. The Morning After the Sun Kick
Raon woke up feeling… hopeful.
Maybe the internet had moved on.
Maybe everyone forgot.
Maybe the global panic over her "attacking the sun" had passed and people were now arguing about something normal, like whether cereal is soup.
She turned to Shion, who was scrolling her tablet with a face that said oh no, it's worse.
Raon whispered, "Shion…?"
Shion slowly rotated the screen toward her.
BREAKING NEWS:
GOVERNMENT DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM ONE KICK GIRL
"WHERE WERE YOU AT DAWN?"
Raon screamed.
Not the noble scream of battle.
Not the scream of stubbed toes and microwaved eggs exploding.
No.
This was the AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH I AM A PUBLIC MENACE scream.
Shion sighed.
"You trended overnight again."
"What hashtag!?" Raon clutched her head.
Shion swiped.
#ARRESTTHESUNKICKER
#SHESTARTEDANASTRONOMYWAR
#DAYLIGHTDEFENDER
#TEAMMOONRISE
Raon collapsed on the floor.
"What is Team Moonrise!?"
Shion deadpanned:
"A group that believes you're plotting a coup to replace the sun with the moon."
Raon let out a sound that was 80% despair, 20% dolphin.
"We need to go to the Bureau," Shion said, dragging her to her feet.
"They're holding an emergency meeting."
Raon whimpered.
"Am I invited?"
"…Technically no," Shion admitted.
"But they said you'll probably show up anyway."
---
2. Bureau HQ: The Crisis Room Is Already on Fire
The moment they arrived, they felt it.
The Bureau was vibrating with panic.
Interns running.
Analysts shouting.
Screens showing Raon's accidental sun-kicking video on loop like a cursed prophecy.
Manager Kimchi spotted them.
"NO. NO NO NO. RAON, WHY ARE YOU HERE!?"
Raon pointed at Shion.
"She brought me."
Shion crossed her arms.
"She would have sneaked in through the vent system anyway."
Kimchi's eye twitched.
"That is… unfortunately true."
They were ushered—well, dragged—into the Crisis Room.
Maestro Dome already sat at the head of the table, floating dramatically as always.
Yuno was sipping a glitter drink like this was all excellent content for her followers.
Synthra Byte appeared via hologram, purely to laugh.
Even the Pitchfork Trio was in the corner taking notes for some reason.
Kimchi slapped a giant folder on the table.
"THIS," he declared, "is the damage report."
Raon raised her hand timidly.
"Can I read—"
"NO YOU MAY NOT."
---
3. The Report of Doom
Kimchi opened the folder.
And started listing bullet points like a man who had given up hope.
"1. Half the city believes you can kick stars."
Raon shrugged. "I mean… yes."
Shion kicked her shin under the table.
"OW—NO—I MEAN NO I CANNOT."
"2. A cult formed overnight praising you as the 'Solar Slayer.'"
Yuno sparkled.
"Amazing brand potential."
Shion threw a pen at her.
"3. The astronomy community is suing us for emotional distress."
Shion wrote that down.
"…Actually that one's reasonable."
"4. A kindergarten asked if you'll visit to teach 'space defense.'"
Raon gasped.
"CUTE."
Kimchi slammed the table.
"NO. NO TEACHING KIDS TO KICK THE SKY."
Synthra's hologram flickered as she laughed.
"This is incredible. Raon is now canonically an environmental threat."
"HEY!" Raon pouted.
"5. The mayor wants a formal apology."
"And?" Shion asked.
Kimchi's voice dropped to a whisper of pure suffering.
"6. The government scheduled an emergency hearing. They want Raon… to testify."
Dead silence.
Raon blinked.
Shion blinked.
Yuno gasped dramatically.
Maestro Dome muttered, "We are all going to jail."
Raon whispered, voice cracking:
"…Testify for what?"
Kimchi stared at her with the hollow eyes of a man who has seen too much.
"FOR ALLEGED ATTACK ON A CELESTIAL BODY."
---
4. The Plan That Should Not Have Been Approved
Maestro Dome clapped his hands.
"Alright. We need a unified strategy."
Raon sat up straight.
"I CAN DO STRATEGY."
Shion grabbed her shoulders.
"No. Let the adults talk."
Maestro Dome continued:
"Option A: Deny everything."
"Option B: Blame CGI."
"Option C: Claim Raon was practicing kick-based photosynthesis."
Shion stared at him.
"…Are you drunk?"
"Always."
Yuno leaned forward, tapping her sparkly pen.
"I vote we lean into the villain arc."
"NO." Shion smacked her with a notepad.
The Pitchfork Trio raised their hands.
"We prepared a musical number about Raon fighting the sun—"
"NO." Kimchi nearly had an aneurysm.
Raon raised her hand.
"I have an idea."
Everyone froze.
Kimchi: "Please don't."
Raon: "What if… hear me out…
I just tell the truth?"
Silence.
Long, horrified silence.
Like she had just suggested they fight a black hole using spoons.
Shion placed a gentle hand on her arm.
"Raon… baby… honey… darling…
You telling the truth is EXACTLY why we're in this mess."
"…Oh."
---
5. Disaster: Raon Interrupts the Meeting
Just as the adults resumed arguing—
A news alert flashed on every screen.
BREAKING
THE SUN IS TRENDING AGAIN
HASHTAG #RAONINSOLARSYSTEMCOURT
Raon panicked, leapt out of her seat, and accidentally—
—kicked the crisis table in half.
Kimchi screamed.
The analysts screamed.
The table screamed (metaphorically).
Shion stared, dead inside.
"Raon… why."
Raon pointed at the shattered table.
"I panicked!"
"You ALWAYS PANIC WITH YOUR LEGS."
Kimchi fainted for three seconds.
Dome melted into a puddle of despair.
Yuno recorded everything.
---
6. The Government Calls
Someone's phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Kimchi answered with trembling hands.
"Hello…? Yes sir…
Yes sir, she's here…
Yes sir, I know the sun cannot legally press charges but—
Wait—WHAT!?
THE PRIME MINISTER WANTS TO TALK TO HER!?"
Raon screamed into Shion's shoulder.
"I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO PRIME PEOPLE."
Shion patted her head.
"You have to."
"No I don't."
"Yes. You do."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Shion exhaled, grabbed her by the collar, and dragged her toward the phone.
Raon whispered:
"Can I kick him?"
"NO."
---
7. The Call Goes Exactly As Bad As Expected
Kimchi put the phone on speaker.
A very official voice crackled through.
"Miss Raon…
Are you aware that your actions caused nationwide panic?"
Raon froze.
Shion gave her a thumbs-up. "Just be calm."
Raon tried.
She really did.
"Um… sorry…?"
Shion facepalmed.
The official continued:
"Miss Raon, can you confirm you do NOT intend to attack any more celestial objects?"
Raon glanced at Shion.
Shion mouthed: SAY NO. CLEAR NO.
Raon nodded.
Then answered:
"…Probably not?"
Shion choked.
Maestro Dome sank into the floor.
Yuno giggled maniacally.
The official sighed.
"…We're calling a full hearing tomorrow."
CLICK.
The line died.
Everyone slowly turned to Raon.
Shion whispered with the gentleness of a babysitter losing hope:
"Sweetie… that was the opposite of what you were supposed to say."
Raon curled into a ball.
"I don't like hearings. They have chairs and questions."
---
8. Aftermath: Raon Needs Emotional Snacks
The meeting dissolved into chaos.
Kimchi yelling.
Dome crying.
Yuno writing ad slogans.
The Trio humming a sun-battle anthem.
Shion took Raon's hand.
"Let's go home."
Raon sniffed.
"Am I in trouble?"
"…Yes."
"Is the world mad at me?"
"…Also yes."
Raon sulked.
"Shion… will you leave me if I get arrested by space court?"
Shion lifted her chin.
"Raon. You absolute disaster.
I will break into space court myself if I have to."
Raon's eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
"Really."
Raon beamed, hugged Shion, and whispered:
"…Snacks?"
Shion smiled tiredly.
"Yes. Snacks."
Raon pumped a fist.
"I'm gonna survive the government hearing if it kills me!!"
Shion: "…Please do not word it like that."
---
END OF CHAPTER 70