COTE: Sōsuke Aizen, The Poet Chapter 58 58

After School — Student Council Room

In the student council room after school, illuminated by the crimson hues of the setting sun streaming through the windows, Miyabi Nagumo sat alone in the president's chair, staring blankly into empty space.

The ambition that had once shone brightly in his eyes was gone. The arrogant light that had looked down upon others had vanished as well. All that remained was deep despair and the lingering residue of fear that refused to leave him.

(...What am I doing?)

He noticed that his hands were trembling slightly without realizing it.

That night during the mixed training camp.

The existence known as Sosuke Aizen, whom he had confronted in the darkness.

That was not a being on the sa level as a fellow high school student. He was a bottomless abyss against which Nagumo's petty logic held no aning. His presence carried an overwhelming and absolute aura of death, as though his very life could be crushed at any mont.

Just rembering it made his heart race and cold sweat pour from his body.

"I will give this warning only once. If you ever do anything that dims even a fragnt of her light... I will erase your entire little garden and your existence from this world without leaving a trace."

The absolute terror he had felt that night flashed back through his mind, making his breathing shallow.

His perfect strategy to expel Akane Tachibana had been seen through from the very beginning by Aizen and overturned as easily as a ga board.

More than anything, however, what had completely broken Nagumo's spirit was the look Horikita Manabu had given him.

"I thought you were a man who never lied when it ca to competition, but it seems I was mistaken. If all you can do is drag others into your sches and throw mud from outside the field of battle, then you are no longer worth facing. I will never accept your challenges again."

It was complete rejection from the man he had once admired, sought to surpass, and sworn to drive into despair.

Fear and hopelessness clogged his throat, and Nagumo gritted his teeth.

At that mont—

"Nagumo, thinking alone in the dark again?"

The door to the student council room opened.

The familiar, easygoing voice belonged to Nazuna Asahina, his classmate and close friend. She looked at him with concern, yet warmth still filled her eyes.

"...Asahina. What do you want?"

Nagumo tried to sound normal, but exhaustion was evident in his voice.

"Nothing in particular. You've looked like an empty shell lately, so I thought I'd check on you."

She stood in front of his desk and sighed.

"I ran into Aizen-kun and Shiina-san at Keyaki Mall earlier. I brought back a ssage for you."

"...A ssage from Aizen?"

The mont he heard that na, his shoulders twitched.

"Yeah. He said, 'As long as you follow the warning I gave you, I won't do anything. You don't need to be so afraid. If you're obviously trembling all the ti, it just makes everyone around you uncomfortable and causes unnecessary trouble. Go back to doing your student council duties normally.'"

"...!"

For an instant, irritation flared within Nagumo.

Who does he think he is?

But the overwhelming pressure he had felt that night imdiately resurfaced in his mind, and the irritation was swallowed by fear.

Even his terror was nothing more than an annoying disturbance to that man.

The enormous gap between himself and Aizen felt more obvious than ever, leaving him speechless.

Watching him, Asahina smiled gently.

"Still... I'm relieved."

"...What?"

"It's true that our class has co this far because of your abilities. If things continue like this, we'll definitely graduate as Class A. Your talent is real."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"But if you'd stayed the sa arrogant Nagumo who crushed anything that didn't go his way and made sure nobody could oppose him... I think sothing irreversible would've happened soday."

"Sothing irreversible..."

"That's why I think it was actually good for you to experience such an overwhelming defeat while you're still a student."

Her words slowly seeped into Nagumo's frozen heart.

(...An overwhelming defeat, huh.)

He had been a frog in a well.

A king ruling over a tiny garden without ever knowing how high the sky truly was.

If he had never t the absurd existence known as Aizen and had entered society while still carrying that arrogance, what would have beco of him?

Nagumo inhaled sharply and looked at Asahina's kind smile.

What was he supposed to do now?

Hide in fear and stop moving forward?

No.

Slowly, Nagumo stood up and took a deep breath.

"...That guy really thinks highly of himself."

It was a complaint, but his voice no longer contained fear or bitterness. It sounded oddly refreshed.

"Hehe. Maybe the day you beat Aizen-kun will never co."

"Shut up... Though, maybe you're right."

Nagumo laughed self-deprecatingly and lowered his head toward her.

"I understand now. Sorry for making you worry, Asahina. I'll get back on my feet my own way."

Her face imdiately brightened with a radiant smile.

"Yeah! That's the spirit, Nagumo!"

That Night

That night, I was lying on my bed flipping through a volu of classical literature when my smartphone vibrated briefly.

Checking the screen, I saw that a new group chat had been created.

The mbers were:

Manabu Horikita

Akane Tachibana

Honami Ichinose

Myself

The creator was—

Miyabi Nagumo.

(Huh? Nagumo made a group with us? What's gotten into him?)

Frowning in confusion, I watched as a lengthy ssage appeared.

"Sorry for ssaging so late. This is sudden, but could everyone spare so ti tomorrow evening? I'd like to offer a proper apology in person for my actions up to now, including what happened during the mixed training camp. I've reserved a yakiniku restaurant at Keyaki Mall. I hope you'll co."

I stared at the screen and exhaled softly.

(Oh? Looks like Asahina-senpai's ssage helped him recover. Still, for soone as proud as Nagumo to organize an apology eting himself... Asahina-senpai's counseling skills are terrifying.)

If Nagumo returned to functioning properly as student council president, it would an less work for as vice president.

A win-win situation.

Soon, Horikita-senpai replied.

"Understood. I'll be there."

Tachibana-senpai and Ichinose quickly accepted as well.

I added my own response.

"If food is being provided, then I shall grace the occasion with my presence."

The Following Evening

The next night, we gathered in a private soundproof room at an upscale yakiniku restaurant in Keyaki Mall.

At the head of the table sat Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai.

Across from them sat Ichinose and .

Nagumo occupied the lowest seat.

The mont everyone was seated, Nagumo stood and bowed deeply.

"Horikita-senpai. Tachibana-senpai. I sincerely apologize for trying to unfairly force Tachibana-senpai's expulsion during the mixed training camp."

His earnest voice echoed through the silent room.

It was a level of sincerity unimaginable from the old Nagumo.

Tachibana's eyes widened in shock, while Horikita quietly closed his eyes and listened.

"...Raise your head, Nagumo."

Nagumo slowly looked up.

"If you've recognized your mistake and can lower your head like this, then let's put the past behind us. Tachibana, you agree?"

"Y-Yes! I really don't mind anymore! Please lift your head, Nagumo-kun!"

Relief spread across Nagumo's face.

But he wasn't finished.

Turning toward Ichinose and , he bowed again.

"Ichinose. Aizen. I apologize for all the interference and obstruction I've caused during student council activities and special exams. And Aizen... even if it was to shake you, threatening to expel Shiina Hiyori—soone precious to you—was unforgivable. I'm truly sorry."

The instant those words left his mouth, the atmosphere froze.

"...What?"

The voice ca from Ichinose.

This was the first ti she had learned that Hiyori had been targeted.

The bright smile that normally shone like the sun disappeared from her face.

Slowly standing, she looked down at Nagumo with cold anger.

"Nagumo-senpai... You were planning to expel Hiyori-chan?"

"...Y-Yeah. It was a foolish plan."

"There are things that can be forgiven and things that can't. Targeting Hiyori-chan just to bring down Aizen-kun... I absolutely cannot accept such a despicable thod."

It was quiet fury.

The absolute rejection of a leader protecting a cherished classmate.

Nagumo could only bite his lip in silence.

(Whoa... Ichinose is genuinely furious. Considering how much she cares about her friends, that's not surprising. But pushing Nagumo any further won't accomplish anything. Guess it's my turn to calm things down.)

Remaining seated, I recited one of my stylish poems.

"Ichinose. There is no need to continue whipping a defeated man whose fangs have already been broken and whose head hangs low."

"Aizen-kun...?"

"If he has willingly offered his neck and acknowledged his own insignificance... then let us grant forgiveness in light of his pitiful state."

(Translation: It's okay, Ichinose. He's reflected on his actions and promised never to touch Hiyori again. Let's forgive him.)

"Ugh...!"

Nagumo looked irritated for a split second at my overwhelmingly condescending speech, but managed to suppress it.

Even he understood that opposing now would only prevent his recovery.

Ichinose seed to understand my real aning.

After puffing out her cheeks slightly in dissatisfaction, she finally sat back down.

"...If Aizen-kun says so, then alright."

Watching the exchange, Horikita smiled faintly.

"It seems all grievances have been settled. Since we're here, let's focus on the future instead of dwelling on past mistakes. Nagumo, you're paying tonight, correct?"

"Y-Yes! Thank you all for coming. It's my treat, so please eat as much as you want!"

Thanks to Horikita's perfect intervention, the atmosphere imdiately relaxed.

Expensive cuts of at were ordered in bulk and brought to the table.

Naturally, I seized the tongs and took position by the grill.

"Only at baptized by fla can reclaim the brilliance of life. Allow to adorn your plates with the finest cooking."

(Translation: I'll handle the grilling! Eat as much as you like!)

Skillfully placing at on the grill, I flipped each piece at precisely the right mont.

Then I slid perfectly cooked premium short ribs onto Horikita-senpai's and Tachibana-senpai's plates.

"Here, Tachibana. Aizen grilled it for you. Eat before it gets cold."

"T-Thank you, Horikita-kun! And thank you too, Aizen-kun!"

Tachibana happily took a bite.

A bit of sauce ended up on her lips, and Horikita casually handed her a napkin, subtly encouraging her to wipe it off.

Watching from my front-row seat, I internally lost my mind.

(AAAAAAAAH!! SO PRECIOUS!! Tachibana-senpai looks so happy! Horikita-senpai is still doing his dense protagonist routine, but those little acts of kindness hit Tachibana-senpai's heart directly! Hang in there, Tachibana-senpai! I'll support your romance with everything I've got!!)

Outwardly, I maintained the image of a cool, expressionless vice president quietly grilling at.

Internally, I had transford into an overenthusiastic fan waving glow sticks.

Ichinose had completely recovered from her earlier anger and was happily devouring the at I grilled.

"It's delicious!"

Even Nagumo gradually returned to normal as Horikita drew him into conversations about student council work.

The al continued peacefully.

Eventually, as only a few pieces of at remained on the grill, Nagumo spoke seriously.

"Horikita-senpai. I don't intend to abandon the principles I've always believed in. I still think capable people deserve special privileges. I still want a school where talented individuals trapped in lower classes can earn privileges through their own ability."

His words no longer carried arrogance.

Only conviction.

"However... I won't involve unrelated people just to show off my power anymore. I won't use forceful thods that create unnecessary expulsions. From now on, I'll prove my ideals within the frawork of fair ritocracy."

It was a declaration worthy of a true student council president rather than a dictator.

Horikita nodded approvingly.

"You've finally beco a student council president in the truest sense. Thanks to Aizen, you've grown considerably."

Then Horikita turned toward and lowered his head.

"Aizen. Thank you for helping Nagumo open his eyes. I can now confidently leave the future of the student council to you two."

"Aizen-kun, thank you so much!"

Tachibana joined him in gratitude.

(No, no, no! I only got angry because Nagumo tried to target Hiyori and accidentally dropped a full Black Coffin-level intimidation spell on him! I wasn't trying to educate anyone! And Horikita-senpai's opinion of just went up again!)

Sweating internally, I nevertheless puffed out my chest and took a sip of black oolong tea.

"Your gratitude is unnecessary, Manabu. I rely polished a clouded mirror. The one who looked upon his own reflection and chose to rise again was Nagumo himself."

I glanced toward Nagumo and smirked.

"But do not forget, Nagumo. Beyond the sky you gazed upon, I shall always remain seated at its summit. See that you never drag those wings through the mud again."

(Translation: I'm glad you reflected on yourself and got back on your feet. Let's work together in the student council from now on. But if you ever target my friends again, I won't forgive you.)

This ti, Nagumo did not beco angry.

Instead, he simply nodded.

Quietly.

Firmly.

With unwavering determination.