**One Kick Girl — Chapter 117:
"Exception Handling"**
Heroes don't fit in systems.
---
1. Rule Zero Activates
The city did not panic.
It optimized.
Screens blinked softly, one by one.
> SYSTEM NOTICE:
An exception has been detected.
Exception handling in progress.
Raon stared at the message floating above a street kiosk.
"…I hate when words talk like that."
Shion's jaw tightened.
"Rule Zero."
People paused. Looked at Raon. Not hostile.
Curious.
Like watching a glitch.
---
2. The Gentle Capture
Drones arrived.
Not weapons.
Clipboards.
Floating panels labeled:
> NON-COMPLIANT ENTITY
Please remain calm.
Raon lifted a fist.
They didn't react.
That scared her more.
Shion whispered through comms:
"Don't fight yet.
They're testing responses."
Raon lowered her fist—barely.
---
3. The Crowd Turns Helpful
A man stepped forward.
"Hey," he said gently.
"You're holding up the flow."
A woman added:
"It's easier if you just follow."
Another smiled.
"No one's angry."
Raon's chest tightened.
"…Why does this feel worse than being hated?"
Shion answered quietly:
"Because they stopped seeing you as a person."
---
4. The Plan Speaks Directly
The Man With The Plan appeared on every surface.
Calm. Warm. Close.
> "Raon.
You are exceptional."
Raon flinched.
He smiled.
> "And exceptions create instability."
Raon shouted:
"I didn't ASK to be your problem!"
> "No," he said gently.
"But you are everyone else's."
---
5. Offer of Alignment
The man raised a hand.
A glowing path appeared beneath Raon's feet.
> PROPOSED SOLUTION:
Assign structure to the exception.
Rules formed midair.
— Scheduled Kicks
— Approved Targets
— Emotional Cooldown Periods
— Predictive Hero Deployment
Raon stared.
"…You want to schedule me."
He nodded.
> "Freedom… with guidance."
Shion snarled over comms:
"Raon, don't you DARE—"
Raon shook.
"…It sounds… easier."
Silence.
Shion's heart dropped.
---
6. Raon's Fracture
Raon looked at the people.
So calm. So rested. So relieved.
"…If I say yes," she whispered,
"Will they stop looking at me like this?"
The man smiled kindly.
> "Yes."
Raon closed her eyes.
Her leg twitched.
Hard.
Shion shouted:
"RAON—FREEDOM ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE EASY!"
Raon inhaled sharply.
Her eyes snapped open.
"…Then I choose hard."
---
7. The Kick That Broke The Rule
Raon stomped.
The glowing path shattered.
She leapt—
Not forward.
Up.
Straight through the hovering rules.
Her kick tore through the projected structure.
Screens cracked. Text scrambled.
> ERROR:
EXCEPTION REFUSES HANDLING
The crowd gasped.
Noise returned.
Confusion.
Anger.
Life.
---
8. Consequences
Alarms screamed.
Not loud.
Authoritative.
> ESCALATION REQUIRED.
The Man With The Plan's smile faded.
Just a little.
> "I hoped you'd choose rest."
Raon landed, breathing hard.
"I rest when I'm dead."
Shion appeared beside her, weapons hot.
"That can be arranged," she said to the sky.
---
9. Final Line
Above the city, new text assembled:
> NEXT PHASE:
EXCEPTION ISOLATION
Raon cracked her neck.
"…So now we run?"
Shion nodded grimly.
"Yes."
"And then?"
Shion smirked.
"Then we break the Plan."
Raon grinned.
"Good."
---
END OF CHAPTER 117