**One Kick Girl — Chapter 187:
"Let's Take This Offline (There Is No Offline)"**
Communication horror • Ambiguous menace • Raon vs invisible meetings
1. The Phrase That Removes Evidence
The message arrived quietly.
No subject line.
Just one sentence:
"Let's take this offline."
Raon stared at the screen.
"…We're already online."
Shion didn't blink.
"That's how you know it's dangerous."
2. Immediate Threat Classification
Synthra Byte spun her chair around.
"Offline where?"
Yuno leaned closer. "Do they mean… phone call?"
Raon recoiled.
"WITHOUT A RECORD?"
Shion closed her eyes for half a second.
"Yes. That's exactly what they mean."
3. Why "toggle Offline" Is a War Crime
Shion stood and began explaining like a disaster briefing.
"'Take this offline' means: – No notes
– No timestamps
– No accountability
– Maximum reinterpretation later"
Raon clenched her fists.
"They want to rewrite reality."
"Yes," Shion replied calmly.
"And blame us for it."
4. Raon's Proposed Countermeasure
Raon raised her leg slightly.
"I can kick the internet cable."
"No."
"I can kick the phone."
"No."
"I can kick them."
"Still no."
Raon slumped.
"What CAN I kick?"
Shion smiled faintly.
"The phrasing."
5. The Reply That Changes Everything
Shion began typing.
Slowly. Carefully.
Raon read aloud.
Happy to discuss further.
To keep everyone aligned, could you share the key points here first?
Raon's eyes widened.
"That forces them to SAY IT."
"Yes," Shion said.
"Or retreat."
6. The Waiting (Again, the Worst Part)
Raon paced.
"They're thinking."
Shion nodded.
"They didn't expect resistance."
Yuno whispered, "Why don't people just say what they want?"
Shion laughed once.
Short. Tired.
"Because then they'd have to own it."
7. The Counterattack Fails
The reply arrived.
It's nothing major, just thought a quick chat might help.
Raon screamed.
"THAT'S STILL NOTHING."
Shion was already typing.
Understood. If there are no specific issues, we'll continue with the current plan.
Happy to revisit once there's a defined topic.
Send.
Raon felt the air shift.
8. Silence, Again
Five minutes.
Ten.
No reply.
Synthra checked the logs.
"They disengaged again."
Raon blinked.
"They keep running."
"They're probing," Shion said.
"Looking for cracks."
9. Raon Learns a New Truth
Raon looked at her hands.
"All this time… I thought the strongest move was kicking."
Shion met her eyes.
"Sometimes the strongest move is not giving them anything to twist."
Raon nodded slowly.
"…I still like kicking."
"That's fine," Shion said.
"You just don't kick paper trails."
10. Post-Credit Omen
Far away.
In a calendar far darker than any battlefield.
A meeting was being scheduled.
Subject:
Alignment Touchpoint
Duration:
30 minutes (tentative)
Optional attendees: Everyone.
Raon shuddered.
"…Shion."
Shion sighed.
"Get ready."
END OF CHAPTER 187