Would you please leave Soul Society for the time being?

It was night, inside the Kirin Palace, Squad Zero member Tenjirō Kirinji's Riden.

Sōgo lay in his room, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep no matter how he tossed and turned.

"Yo~ Sōgo, how was your day?"

Just then, someone shoved open the tightly shut door, and the Big-Eyed Monk walked in.

"Don't just barge into other people's rooms, Monk!"

Sōgo turned his head toward the Big-Eyed Monk, who had suddenly entered his room, and spoke calmly.

"You don't really mind anyway, do you?"

The Big-Eyed Monk sat down beside Sōgo without asking and questioned him with a smile.

"I do mind, all right? I just figured you might have something important to discuss with me, so I didn't stop you..."

Sōgo Shihoin frowned slightly at the Big-Eyed Monk's words. As a psychologically healthy man, he hated having other men barge into his room in the middle of the night.

"So, what did you need to see me about in such a hurry?"

Sōgo asked the Big-Eyed Monk seriously.

"Well, it's not really anything that urgent~" After hearing Sōgo's question, the Big-Eyed Monk first rubbed his round head and smiled faintly, then gradually grew serious. "So, young Sōgo, when do you intend to get that terrifying Spiritual Pressure of yours under control? It's powerful enough to make people tremble. You can't stay locked in that birdcage your whole life, can you? If this keeps up, you'll break down someday, and that will be a catastrophe for all of Soul Society."

"Controlling my Spiritual Pressure, huh!"

Sōgo nodded lightly at the Big-Eyed Monk's words. That was indeed something he needed to consider.

"Actually, I have an idea! I could put another eyepatch over this one. That would be a clever way to control my Spiritual Pressure, wouldn't it?"

After thinking for a while, Sōgo had a flash of inspiration and spoke happily.

"Huh? Really? Another eyepatch over your eyepatch? In other words, after suppressing your Spiritual Pressure thirtyfold, you'd suppress it another threefold! That way, your Spiritual Pressure wouldn't cause too much harm to Soul Society!" The Big-Eyed Monk was deeply surprised by Sōgo's words. "Sōgo, could you be a genius?"

"Keep it low-key. I'm a pretty low-key guy!"

Sōgo Shihoin waved a hand at the Big-Eyed Monk, looking modest.

"Hahaha..."

"Hahaha..."

Then the Big-Eyed Monk and Sōgo Shihoin both burst out laughing.

"Creak~" As the two laughed, Tenjirō Kirinji, who had been eavesdropping outside, finally couldn't stand it anymore. He pushed open Sōgo's door and roared, "Are you two idiots? Huh? You think that eyepatch can only suppress Spiritual Pressure threefold? No! After the imprint, this monster's Spiritual Pressure can only be suppressed another threefold at most, or it'll burst the seal open! Got it?!"

"Honestly, leaving things to you two is enough to make anyone worry!"

As he spoke, Tenjirō Kirinji walked into Sōgo's room without the slightest hesitation and sat beside him.

"Huh? So why did you just come straight in?" Sōgo Shihoin asked irritably as he watched Tenjirō Kirinji settle beside him with practiced ease. "Is my bedroom some school club's meeting room?"

"We need somewhere for us to talk, don't we?"

Just as Sōgo complained about what his room was being used for, Ōetsu Nimaiya also pushed the door open and entered.

"Sigh..." Looking at the full gathering of Squad Zero in his room, Sōgo stood up and switched on the light. He casually brought over a chair with a backrest and sat facing the others, draping his arms over its back as he asked, "So, what are you planning to talk about?"

"Aw! Having the light on ruins the mood."

The Big-Eyed Monk suddenly wilted as he looked around the newly lit room.

"Exactly, exactly. This is no fun. I'm going back to sleep."

Tenjirō Kirinji shrugged and had already pushed open Sōgo's door, ready to return to his own bedroom.

"I'll kill you, you know~"

Sōgo spoke coldly as he watched the Big-Eyed Monk and Tenjirō Kirinji prepare to retreat right after "waking him up."

"Hahaha, just kidding." At Sōgo's words, the Big-Eyed Monk hurriedly waved his hands and sat back down, his expression turning serious. "Well, young Sōgo, how about simply accepting a promotion to our Squad Zero?"

"What?" Sōgo Shihoin froze slightly at the Big-Eyed Monk's words. "Doesn't promotion to Squad Zero require an outstanding contribution to Soul Society? I haven't contributed anything! You really shouldn't make jokes like that."

"Hahaha... You jest, young Sōgo. I'm not joking. I'm quite serious. Simply staying in your room without going outside is already a contribution to Soul Society!"

"Our requirements for promotion to Squad Zero are that, on top of possessing a certain level of strength, you must make a contribution that changes or affects all of Soul Society. By keeping yourself sealed inside your room, young Sōgo, you've already contributed to all of Soul Society. Otherwise, the whole of Soul Society would have been in ruins by now."

"Besides, if you were promoted, every member of Squad Zero would be in favor. You can rest completely assured of that. And we really do need a member who specializes in combat."

The Big-Eyed Monk smiled faintly at Sōgo Shihoin, but his tone was very serious. He showed no intention of joking with him at all.

"What about the captains of the other squads? If someone completely unknown were promoted to Squad Zero, wouldn't the others resent it?"

Sōgo Shihoin continued.

"You can rest completely assured on that point too, young Sōgo. Other people's resentment doesn't matter. All of Soul Society is supported by our Squad Zero, so complaints from a few weaklings are meaningless."

The Big-Eyed Monk spoke without a care.

"Is that so? Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass!"

"I don't mind being a homebody, but I don't want to spend forever holed up with a bunch of middle-aged men. Ask me again in a thousand years, when I'm middle-aged too and have completely had my fill of fun!"

Sōgo Shihoin waved a hand at them. Once someone joined Squad Zero, they were essentially locked into it for life. Even someone who loved staying home couldn't stay cooped up forever somewhere that never changed, could they?!

"Is that so? What a shame..." Though the Big-Eyed Monk spoke of regret, his face wore an expression that said he had expected as much. After shaking his head helplessly, he said, "Then there's no other choice. Young Sōgo, until you've fully learned to control your Spiritual Pressure, please leave Soul Society!"

"Leave... where?"

Sōgo Shihoin's body trembled slightly as he asked the Big-Eyed Monk.

"Leave Soul Society!"

The Big-Eyed Monk answered Sōgo Shihoin's question with a smile.

(End of chapter)