  Spin crossover is expected to enrich unusual physical states in various types
of condensed matter. Through inelastic neutron scattering, we study the
spin-state excitations in the canonical and advanced platform, LaCoO$_3$, and
reveal that the spatial correlation robustly maintains the seven-Co-site size
below 300 K and the internal Co-$d$ electrons are spatially delocalized. By
combining theoretical calculations, this dynamical short-range order is
identified as a new collective unit for describing spin-state with dual
spin-state nature beyond the conventional one-Co-site classification.
