**One Kick Girl — Chapter 200:
"Thoughts? (Silence as Strategy)"**
Inbox warfare • Tactical unread • Raon learns restraint
1. The Email
Subject:
Thoughts?
No body text.
Just that.
Raon stared at it like it might bite.
"…That's illegal," she said.
Shion adjusted her glasses. "It's bait."
2. The Instinct to Reply
Raon's fingers twitched.
"I have thoughts."
"Everyone does," Shion replied. "That's why we don't share them."
3. The Draft That Must Never Be Sent
Raon typed furiously.
I think this meeting could have been an email and this email could have been avoided—
Shion gently closed the laptop.
"No."
Raon protested. "But it's honest."
"That's the problem."
4. Silence Explained
Shion leaned back.
"Silence creates pressure."
Raon frowned. "On us?"
"On them," Shion corrected. "They asked an open question. Now they own it."
5. Day One: Nothing
They did nothing.
No reply.
No acknowledgment.
Raon vibrated.
"They think we're dead."
Shion sipped her drink. "Good."
6. Day Two: The Follow-Up
New email.
Just checking in 😊
Raon hissed. "The smiley."
Shion nodded. "A sign of weakening resolve."
7. The Power Shift
Raon whispered, "So we still don't answer?"
Shion replied, "Now we can."
She dictated a single line.
Thanks for checking in — reviewing internally.
Raon blinked.
"That's it?"
"Yes. We've reset the clock."
8. The Aftershock
An hour later:
Great! Looking forward to your thoughts.
Raon laughed. "They learned nothing."
Shion smiled. "They learned patience."
9. Growth, Reluctantly
Raon leaned back.
"So sometimes the strongest move is… not kicking?"
Shion nodded. "Exactly."
Raon sighed. "I hate it."
10. Final Wisdom
Shion closed the laptop.
"Inboxes are battlefields," she said.
"And silence is a shield."
Raon cracked her knuckles anyway.
"…Just in case."
END OF CHAPTER 200