1. The Bureau's Bright Idea
Every once in a while, the Hero Bureau remembered its true purpose — to look like it was in control.
So, after the "Echo-5 Incident," it launched a brand-new initiative:
> "Hero Re-Education Program: Ensuring Safer Superhuman Conduct."
(Sponsored by Aether Insurance™ and Bureau Coffee.)
The pamphlet read:
> "Learn teamwork! Learn restraint! Learn how not to destroy your workplace!"
Raon skimmed it over breakfast.
> "Teamwork? I work fine with gravity."
Shion adjusted her glasses. "You're legally required to attend."
Raon yawned. "Legally overrated."
Five minutes later, Bureau drones airlifted her straight from her apartment window.
---
2. Welcome to Boot Camp
The training complex was a sprawling wasteland of metal domes and hazard signs.
A gigantic banner flapped in the wind:
> "WELCOME HEROES! FAILURE IS GROWTH. DESTRUCTION IS NOT."
Standing at the center was the instructor — a man built like an unfinished statue wearing sunglasses and a Bureau tracksuit.
> "I am Commander Dome, your re-education supervisor!"
Raon blinked. "Wait… Maestro Dome? The stadium guy who got crushed by his own sound system?"
Dome's smile twitched. "That was a strategic retreat."
Behind him stood other "problem heroes":
Synthra Byte, arms crossed, rolling her eyes.
Baron Silence, who communicated solely through intimidating nods.
DJ Bloop, holding a broken turntable.
And Raon, still holding her confiscation receipt for "excessive kicking."
---
3. Lesson One: Emotional Regulation
Commander Dome blew his whistle. "Heroes must master composure! Today's exercise: anger management under duress!"
He gestured to a holographic villain simulation labeled "Mildly Annoying Thug."
The hologram insulted Raon:
> "You kick like a Wi-Fi signal — weak and inconsistent!"
Raon stared at it. Blinked. Then kicked it so hard the projector exploded.
Dome's whistle screeched.
> "FAILURE! You were supposed to use words, not feet!"
Raon shrugged. "My feet said enough."
Synthra Byte snickered. "Honestly, same."
---
4. Lesson Two: Team Coordination
Next drill — "Collaborative Combat Simulation."
The objective: heroes must defeat a dummy villain using teamwork, not individual attacks.
Dome barked, "You will not act alone! You will strategize! You will—"
Raon had already kicked the dummy's head into orbit.
> MISSION COMPLETE.
Everyone stared at the smoking crater.
Dome's vein twitched. "Teamwork, Ms. Raon, means working together!"
She replied, "I did. Gravity helped."
---
5. Lunch Break (and Existential Despair)
In the cafeteria, Synthra Byte stirred her soup gloomily.
> "This whole re-education thing is just PR. The Bureau's scared of us."
Raon slurped noodles. "They should be."
Shion's hologram appeared on Raon's wristband.
> "You're trending again. Hashtag '#OneKickExpelled.' The Bureau's image department is panicking."
Raon blinked. "For what?"
Shion sighed. "For existing."
---
6. Lesson Three: Controlled Force
The final test — precision kicking.
Heroes had to strike a row of targets without collateral damage.
Dome demonstrated flawlessly, tapping each target with exact power.
> "Control is strength!" he boomed. "Now you, Raon!"
Raon cracked her neck, raised her leg—
BOOM.
The entire target range disintegrated.
Half the mountain vanished.
Dome's sunglasses flew off and landed three miles away.
Smoke billowed. Silence fell.
Raon lowered her leg.
> "…Was that within tolerance?"
Dome stared into the crater, whispering, "You vaporized the concept of tolerance."
---
7. Evening Evaluation
At sunset, Dome stood before the exhausted heroes.
> "You've all shown… effort. Except for One Kick Girl, who has shown apocalyptic talent without purpose."
Raon raised her hand. "That counts as effort."
Dome ignored her. "Until further notice, you are confined to re-education grounds for remedial training!"
Raon yawned. "So like, a sleepover?"
"Detention!" Dome roared.
"Same difference."
---
8. Epilogue: Training Grounds at Night
After everyone turned in, Raon lay awake staring at the ceiling of her bunk.
Shion's voice whispered through her earpiece.
> "Raon, the moon's signal jumped again — it's at 79%. Whatever's updating up there, the Bureau hasn't noticed."
Raon sat up, eyes narrowing.
> "So while they're teaching me how to kick less, something up there's learning how to kick more."
Shion hesitated. "Exactly."
Raon smirked. "Guess I'll graduate early."
---
[End of Chapter 15 — "Hero Re-Education Program: Kick Responsibly"]