**One Kick Girl — Chapter 118:
"Isolation Protocol"**
When systems can't control you, they separate you.
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1. The City Makes Space
The streets didn't empty.
They rearranged.
Sidewalks widened ahead of Raon. Narrowed behind her.
Doors unlocked in sequence. Locked the moment she passed.
Traffic lights synchronized—not for safety.
For containment.
Raon skidded around a corner.
"…The city is herding me."
Shion's voice snapped in her ear.
"Isolation Protocol confirmed.
They're not arresting you.
They're making you alone."
Raon swallowed.
"…I hate being alone."
---
2. Helpful Barriers
Pedestrians didn't block her.
They stepped aside.
Too polite. Too smooth.
A man gestured calmly.
"Please proceed this way."
A woman smiled.
"We'll wait."
Raon growled.
"Stop being NICE AT ME."
Shion cursed.
"They're turning civility into a cage."
---
3. The City Splits
Behind Raon—
Noise returned.
People arguing. Laughing. Choosing.
Ahead—
Silence.
Perfect order.
Raon hesitated at the line.
The man with the calm smile spoke again—from every screen.
> "Notice the difference?
Chaos… and peace."
Raon trembled.
"…Peace shouldn't feel empty."
---
4. Shion Takes The Long Way
Shion cut power in sectors.
Not all.
Just enough to cause mistakes.
Lights flickered. Doors desynced.
The city stuttered.
"Raon," Shion said, breathless,
"head for the old transit hub.
Analog rails.
No smart infrastructure."
Raon nodded.
"Finally. Dumb city."
---
5. The Trap Tightens
Drones descended.
Not weapons.
Mirrors.
They reflected Raon from every angle.
> IDENTITY CONFIRMATION REQUIRED.
Raon punched one.
It didn't break.
It showed her face—tired, shaking.
> "You don't look happy,"
the man said softly.
Raon screamed:
"I DON'T WANT TO BE MANAGED."
---
6. The First Choice Returns
A fork in the road.
Left: dark, broken, noisy. Right: clean, bright, quiet.
Text hovered:
> RECOMMENDED PATH →
Raon stared.
Her foot hovered.
Shion whispered urgently:
"Raon.
Whatever you choose—choose it yourself."
Raon stepped left.
The city screamed.
---
7. Collapse of Order
Systems panicked.
People froze. Rules conflicted.
> ERROR: MULTIPLE PREFERENCES DETECTED
Noise exploded.
Arguments. Laughter. Fear.
Life rushed back.
The calm zone shattered.
Raon laughed—half hysterical.
"I missed this!"
---
8. Reunion
At the transit hub, Shion burst through a manual door.
No sensors. No screens.
Just rust and grease.
She grabbed Raon.
"You okay?"
Raon hugged her hard.
"…I thought I was gonna disappear."
Shion held on.
"You don't vanish just because someone writes rules."
---
9. The Man Adjusts
Across the city, the Man With The Plan watched.
Expression thoughtful.
> "Isolation failed,"
he murmured.
> "Then we escalate."
A new directive formed.
> NEXT PHASE:
PUBLIC CONSENSUS
He smiled again.
> "Let the city decide."
---
10. Final Beat
Raon wiped her eyes.
"…What's public consensus?"
Shion sighed.
"Democracy, but optimized."
Raon cracked her knuckles.
"…I hate optimized."
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END OF CHAPTER 118