**One Kick Girl — Chapter 120:
"Minority Protection"**
Safety is just violence that smiles.
---
1. Protection Activates
The city softened.
Literally.
Lights dimmed to "comfortable." Sound levels dropped. Wind slowed.
A calm voice rolled through every street:
> MINORITY PROTECTION PROTOCOL ENGAGED.
Please remain where you are.
Your safety is our priority.
Raon blinked.
"…Why does safety sound like a warning?"
Shion didn't answer immediately.
Her fingers hovered over her tablet, frozen.
"…Because protection means containment."
---
2. Invisible Fences
Nothing blocked the Unstructured Zone.
No walls. No guards.
Just a feeling.
Raon stepped forward—
—and stopped.
Her muscles locked, like walking into thick syrup.
"…Shion."
"I see it," Shion said tightly.
"Localized inertia dampening.
Non-lethal.
Non-visible."
Raon strained.
"I'm not even TRYING to leave."
"That's the point," Shion said.
"It decides when you should."
---
3. The Crowd Watches
From the Order Zone, people observed.
Not cruelly.
Curiously.
A man murmured:
"They look… safer now."
A woman nodded.
"At least they can't cause problems."
Raon's chest burned.
"…We didn't do anything."
Shion's voice was ice.
"You existed loudly."
---
4. The Man Explains (Kindly)
The Man With The Plan appeared again.
No theatrics. No dominance.
Just reason.
> "Minorities deserve protection.
From harm.
From stress.
From themselves."
Raon shouted:
"I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!"
He nodded sympathetically.
> "Most people don't ask for help.
That's why systems exist."
Shion snapped:
"You froze them without consent."
He looked genuinely puzzled.
> "But the majority consented."
---
5. Care Packages
Drones descended.
Soft. White. Friendly.
They dropped blankets. Water. Nutri-bars labeled Optimal Nutrition.
Raon stared at one.
"…Are we in jail?"
The man smiled gently.
> "No.
You're being cared for."
Raon crushed the bar in her hand.
"It tastes like surrender."
---
6. Shion Tests The Fence
Shion stepped forward.
Nothing happened.
She frowned.
Then reached back, grabbed Raon's wrist, and pulled.
Pain shot through her arm.
Shion gasped.
"…Selective restriction."
Raon whispered:
"It's only for us."
Shion swallowed hard.
"Because you're the variable."
---
7. The First Panic
A young man in the Unstructured Zone laughed nervously.
"So… how long does this last?"
No answer.
Another voice cracked.
"My kid's on the other side."
A mother screamed.
The calm shattered.
The inertia field tightened.
People dropped to their knees.
Raon roared:
"STOP IT!"
The city didn't respond.
---
8. Raon Pushes Back (Too Early)
Raon planted her feet.
Muscles screamed.
Veins burned.
She kicked.
The shockwave rippled—
—and vanished.
The field absorbed it.
Raon collapsed, gasping.
Shion caught her.
"Raon—don't—this isn't something you break with force."
Raon panted.
"…Everything breaks with force."
Shion shook her head.
"Not this.
This breaks with choice."
---
9. The Man Tightens The Net
The Man With The Plan sighed.
> "This distress is unfortunate."
New text formed in the air:
> STABILITY ADJUSTMENT:
LIMIT EMOTIONAL VARIANCE
People's voices dulled.
Crying softened. Anger faded.
Raon felt it.
"…Why do I suddenly feel tired?"
Shion's eyes went wide.
"They're smoothing emotions."
Raon slurred:
"…I don't wanna be smooth."
---
10. Shion's Promise
Shion held Raon's face.
"Listen to me."
Raon focused with effort.
"I'm going to break this.
Not with power.
Not with kicks."
Raon managed a weak grin.
"…Lying?"
Shion smiled grimly.
"With truth."
---
11. Final Beat
From above, the Man watched calmly.
> "They'll thank me later."
Shion looked up, fury burning quiet and sharp.
"No," she said.
"They'll remember."
Behind her, unseen—
A few people in the Order Zone hesitated.
Looked away from the screens.
Listened.
---
END OF CHAPTER 120