COTE: Sōsuke Aizen, The Poet Chapter 56 56

Several days had passed since we safely returned to school after the grueling seven-night, eight-day mixed training camp.

February had arrived, and as winter's harsh cold deepened, the unity within our First-Year Class A had reached unprecedented heights.

After school, our classroom remained lively as voluntary study sessions continued day after day, making full use of the teamwork we had cultivated during the camp.

"Hey, hey, about this formula application—could you explain it, Kanzaki-kun?"

"Yeah. Looking at the trends from the previous quiz..."

"Ichinose-san, can I see your notes over here?"

"Of course! Let's morize it together!"

At the front of the classroom, centered around Ichinose and Kanzaki, our classmates taught one another in a friendly yet earnest atmosphere. Having overco the camp together, the entire class had developed a genuine awareness and sense of solidarity centered around becoming students worthy of Class A.

(Yeah, yeah. This is wonderful. Everyone is independently trying to raise the overall strength of the class.)

I watched my steadily growing classmates with quiet satisfaction.

anwhile, in the student council room after school.

Recently, the atmosphere there had undergone a dramatic transformation.

"..."

The new student council president, Nagumo Miyabi, sat at his desk staring blankly into space like a shell of his forr self.

His arrogant smile and persistent attempts to undermine had vanished completely.

Unfortunately, he'd also beco practically useless.

Seeing his abnormal condition, Vice President Kiriyama, secretaries Mizowaki and Tonokawa, and the other officers were visibly uneasy around him. As a result, the entire student council's work had nearly ground to a halt.

Which was hardly surprising.

On the final day of the camp, he had been utterly abandoned by President Horikita Manabu—the person whose acknowledgnt he had desperately sought.

More importantly, there was the fully chanted Black Coffin I had unleashed in a fit of rage that night in the courtyard.

The overwhelming pressure and terror of death accompanying it had carved a deep trauma into his heart.

Every ti Nagumo saw , his shoulders twitched violently, and he avoided making eye contact at all costs.

"Fufufu. What's wrong, Mr. Student Council President? Daydreaming in front of that mountain of paperwork? You look like soone being threatened by an invisible monster."

Sitting elegantly on the guest sofa, Kiryuin-senpai teased him with a mischievous grin.

"...Shut up, Kiryuin. I just..."

Nagumo flinched.

Even his rebuttal lacked strength, and he quickly lowered his gaze again.

After glancing at him, Kiryuin turned toward with obvious amusent.

"Oh? Aizen, what do you think? Why do you suppose the fangs of that once-confident man broke so easily?"

I slowly lifted my eyes from the docunts in front of and answered with the cold deanor of a Demon King.

"—Who knows? Perhaps the weight of a temporary crown simply proved too much for a fragile neck to bear."

"Kukuku. Quite right. What a masterpiece."

Kiryuin laughed cheerfully at my insolent response.

(Kiryuin-senpai definitely suspects I did sothing to Nagumo. But she's the type who only cares about seeing sothing entertaining. She won't pry into the details.)

(Thank goodness. If anyone ever found out I stood there proudly reciting the full chant of Black Coffin, the embarrassnt alone would destroy . That middle-school-syndro black history absolutely cannot be revealed to anyone!)

Wiping cold sweat from my brow internally, I maintained a calm expression and looked out the window.

(More importantly, Soma-senpai's Second-Year Class D successfully moved up to Class C after taking first place in the large-group rankings. That success beca a catalyst. Other second-years who had submitted to Nagumo's dictatorship are beginning to develop hope—and the will to rebel.)

(Nagumo's once-absolute regi is now unmistakably heading toward collapse.)

After finishing my student council duties, I headed down a quiet hallway toward the library, where Hiyori was waiting for .

"—Wait, Aizen!"

A desperate voice suddenly called out from behind.

When I turned around, I saw Kiriyama from Second-Year Class B.

He had served on the student council during Manabu-senpai's administration, but after Manabu's graduation he had surrendered to Nagumo's regi and joined his faction.

"...Do you need sothing?"

"What did you do to Nagumo?!"

Kiriyama glared at with bloodshot eyes.

"Ever since the camp, sothing's been wrong with him! He's lost the drive to lead the second-years and spends all his ti acting terrified of sothing! As long as I followed his orders, I was supposed to graduate from Class A for sure! But now... because you broke him, my entire plan is falling apart!"

(...Huh?)

I let out a deep internal sigh.

(What is this guy talking about? He acted like he admired Manabu-senpai, but the mont Manabu graduated, he surrendered to Nagumo's power and points. That was pathetic enough.)

(And now that his own chance of graduating from Class A is in danger, he's blaming and taking it out on ?)

Frankly, I was speechless.

Nagumo Miyabi certainly had serious flaws in both personality and thods.

But he undeniably possessed the ability and charisma necessary to dominate the entire second-year cohort through fear and points.

What about the man standing before ?

He had never tried to change anything himself.

He depended on Manabu.

Then depended on Nagumo.

And now he was shouting at an underclassman because his own self-preservation was threatened.

If he truly respected Manabu-senpai, why hadn't he challenged Nagumo's dictatorship directly?

Why hadn't he fought with his own strength like Soma-senpai and the others?

(The ultimate example of blaming others. No ability. No resolve. Just a parasite clinging to whoever is strongest for personal gain.)

(He's even worse than Nagumo. Just a small fry.)

I stopped walking and pierced him with an icy gaze.

"—Did you truly believe that tracing another's footsteps would allow you to stand at the summit?"

"...W-What?"

Intimidated by the coldness in my voice, Kiriyama faltered.

"A mud puppet incapable of walking on its own feet, capable only of parasitizing the strong, has no right to speak of the heavens."

"I...!"

"—A man who borrows Nagumo's authority and throws stones from a place of safety dares bla his own incompetence on circumstances?"

"If you lack the resolve to move the board with your own hands, then you are already obsolete."

"Spend the rest of your life crawling in that miserable swamp."

"...!!"

My arrogant yet devastatingly accurate words cut through his pitiful pride at the root.

His face turned pale.

Unable to respond, he simply stood there frozen.

(Whew... Maybe I went a little too far. But people who only know how to cling to others need to be completely shattered once, otherwise they'll beco troubleso later.)

Shrugging inwardly, I left without another glance and continued toward the library.

Opening the library door, I found Hiyori in her usual special seat, absorbed in a book.

The winter sunset stread through the windows, illuminating her silver-thread-like hair.

Her calm and beautiful profile resembled a masterpiece painting.

(Ah... an angel.)

(The irritation Kiriyama left behind is being purified instantly.)

"I've been waiting for you, Sosuke-kun."

Noticing my footsteps, Hiyori greeted with a smile as warm as spring sunlight.

"—The path leading to where you wait is always as light as a feather."

Speaking stylish nonsense as usual, I sat across from her and imrsed myself in a peaceful period of reading.

Several dozen minutes passed.

Then two sets of quiet footsteps approached.

"...What a coincidence, Aizen-kun."

Looking up from my book, I saw Suzune Horikita from Class D and, behind her, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji with his usual expressionless face.

(Oh! Kiyotaka and Horikita-san! A library date? How youthful.)

I was delighted to see my friends.

But Horikita was glaring at with eyes sharp enough to kill.

"...During the sports festival, my class ended up dragging your class down."

"I wasn't capable enough to keep everyone united."

"...I apologize."

She lowered her head slightly, but unmistakably.

(Whoa...!?)

I blinked in surprise.

(Horikita-san—the girl who never admitted fault—is acknowledging her own shortcomings and apologizing?)

(Amazing! She's grown so much! As expected of Manabu-senpai's sister. She's truly developing as a class leader.)

I wanted to applaud her remarkable growth.

But before I could, she continued.

"There's also sothing I'd like to ask."

"What exactly did you do to Ike during the camp?"

"It's good that he's studying seriously now, but..."

"...his behavior has beco extrely strange."

The unexpected accusation threw into panic.

(Ikeeeeeee!! There weren't any signs back then! How long was the incubation period?!)

I clutched my head internally at the realization that my stylish influence had sohow beco a cross-class epidemic.

Unaware of my turmoil, Horikita looked directly into my eyes.

"—I gave him nothing."

"He rely gazed into the abyss of truth."

"...I still have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

Horikita sighed.

"Fine. I'll interrogate Kanzaki-kun about Ike later."

Then she fixed with a determined stare.

"I haven't given up on reaching Class A."

"I'll strengthen my entire class, drag your Class A down, and raise ours to the top."

"Prepare yourself."

(Oh! That's great! Excellent spirit! We'll gladly accept your challenge with everything we've got!)

I wanted to encourage her.

Unfortunately, what ca out was the Demon King's declaration.

"—So you've finally recognized your own weakness."

"But it is arrogance for one crawling through the mud to believe rely raising their head will allow them to touch the heavens."

"...What?!"

Horikita's face instantly reddened with anger.

Yet my mouth continued.

"Do your best to stretch out those pathetic hands and relieve my boredom."

(Aaaaaah!! I did it again!! Why does everything co out sounding like maximum-level provocation?!)

As I sweated internally, Hiyori quietly closed her book.

Then, with her usual sweet voice, she delivered a translation from hell.

"'It's good that you've finally acknowledged your incompetence in failing to lead your own class, but don't misunderstand and think that a little self-reflection will be enough to defeat Class A. We hope your pitiful struggles can at least entertain us.'"

(Hiyoriiiii!! Stop!! Horikita-san is going to explode!! Just tell her I'm cheering for her!)

"...!! AIZEN SOSUKEEEE!!"

Horikita's furious shout echoed through the library.

"In the next exam, I'll crush that arrogant nose of yours!"

Panicking, I tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

"—Rember this well. No matter how strong your determination may be, re sentint can never slay the strong."

(AAAAAHHH!! I was trying to say 'Wait, you've got the wrong idea!')

Horikita's expression twisted even further.

Then Hiyori delivered the finishing blow.

"'Don't beco conceited enough to think shallow resolve born from anger can defeat us. Barking beyond your station is unsightly.'"

(HIYORIIIIII!? Why are you adding lethal poison on top of lethal poison?! Her HP hit zero ages ago!!)

"...!! Wash your neck and wait for !"

Looking like an enraged demon, Horikita stord out of the library.

Ayanokoji simply gave a small nod and followed after her.

(...Aizen Sosuke truly is terrifying.)

As he left the library, Ayanokoji's wariness deepened.

(To think he has completely brainwashed Ike and turned him into a pawn under his control.)

(By imprinting those bizarre mannerisms onto him, he intentionally sealed away Ike's only strength—his communication skills.)

(And now he's deliberately crushing Horikita's pride, provoking her and placing even greater psychological pressure on her as though playing with her fighting spirit.)

(The depths of that man remain impossible to asure.)

Completely unaware of Ayanokoji's severe misunderstanding, I watched the pair leave and buried my face in my hands.

(Why?!)

(Why is Hiyori—who's normally so kind and gentle—so incredibly harsh only toward Horikita-san?!)

I stared at the angel beside as she smiled contentedly.

Then a horrifying possibility occurred to .

(Normally, Hiyori understands the true aning behind my arrogant poetry and translates it kindly.)

(But whenever it's Horikita-san, she translates it exactly as spoken and sohow adds extra poison.)

(If her translation ability isn't malfunctioning, then... could it be...?)

(Could the will of Aizen Sosuke buried deep within my subconscious be intentionally provoking Horikita in order to push her toward greater heights—and Hiyori is perfectly interpreting that hidden ego?)

(If that's true, then both my inner Demon King's talent for character developnt and Hiyori's ability to understand it are absolutely terrifying...)

"Is sothing wrong, Sosuke-kun?"

"You haven't turned a page in quite a while."

"...Would you like to take a break and look for another book?"

"—No."

"The silence I share with you is exactly what I need right now."

Desperately concealing the waterfall of cold sweat pouring down my soul, I put on a stylish smile and lowered my gaze to the book Hiyori had chosen for .