Lying Claudia
The walk to the infirmary with Claudia was a bit awkward. Even though the specifics hadn't been exposed, Aria knew that some kind of relationship was forming between us, and Claudia had chosen to go with me openly in front of her. I'd only been worried about not getting caught by the other teachers... but things could turn out like this too. My mind felt a little cluttered.
"Whew. Come on in for now."
I let out a light breath in front of the infirmary door and opened it for her. Claudia scurried inside through the open doorway. She looked just like a small animal. If I had to compare, hmm... a rabbit would fit perfectly.
I closed the infirmary door and approached Claudia, who was already seated.
"Let's start by taking your temperature."
"Ah, u-um, y-yes... yes..."
Taking her temperature was no big deal. I pulled the thermometer from the drawer beside me. As I gripped the long thermometer and approached Claudia, I paused. Where do you normally take temperature with one of these? Under the armpit. But with her habit in place? That'd be tricky. It wasn't an emergency, and this was just for show, so I could probably skip it...
"..."
Claudia sat there, fidgeting with her fingers while subtly watching me. Her pursed lips were dry, and she kept wetting them with her tongue. Her expression was subtly complex—hmm... just the kind that said she'd obediently follow whatever I said.
"Take off your top."
"Y-yes? T-take... t-take it off...?"
Okay, maybe I jumped the gun a bit there.
"I need to tuck the thermometer under your arm, so you'll have to remove your top a little."
"Ah..."
Why did that sigh sound disappointed?
"O-okay, j-just... g-give me a moment..."
Even after all we'd done, staring too openly still felt a bit awkward. She turned her body slightly away from Aria's direction. Right beside me, the rustle of fabric repeated a few times—swish, swish.
"T-Teacher, i-it's... done now..."
"Ah, okay."
It hadn't taken long at all. I turned back to face her normally.
"...I definitely said to take off just a little."
My eyes were filled with pale skin. Pure white, creamy skin in abundance. Skin glistening subtly from sweat. Breasts straining against a pink bra, barely contained.
...Pink, huh.
"Ah, th-that's... this outfit, it... d-doesn't come off easily unless..."
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, stark against her snowy breasts.
"I-it's fine. It'll be over quick."
Right after exercise, body temperature can drop fast as sweat cools. No matter how soft and jiggly those breasts looked, there was a proper order to things.
"Listen to me first... yes, good."
I slipped the thermometer under her raised arm. Tucked it into her armpit, then pulled her arm down gently.
"Hold still like this for a bit."
"Y-yes..."
Now we just had to wait for the thermometer to register her temperature.
...Awkward. This silence. I had to consciously avoid looking at her chest, which made it worse. Claudia wasn't saying anything either. Was she embarrassed? I wanted to say something to break the ice-cold atmosphere.
"Um... cute underwear."
Wait. Was that sexual harassment? Had I just said something risky?
"...Th-thank you..."
Phew, safe. Probably because it's Claudia.
Thermometers are made of glass. You have to wait long enough for the liquid inside to absorb the heat. So, one flirty comment wasn't going to break the awkwardness. Was there a better topic... Ah, right. Aria.
"I didn't tell Aria what we did."
Claudia flinched, her shoulders trembling. She had her head down, so I couldn't see her face, but her ears were bright red.
"I figured she'd worry. And I have no intention of telling anyone else."
Rumors wouldn't do me any good either. Lucky it was another apprentice saintess who caught us—my accomplice, in a way. If it had been Teresa...
Gulp.
She was clearly listening, but Claudia didn't respond. No reaction at all. Had I misread her?
"So, um... no need to worry. Just in case."
I wrapped it up awkwardly.
"Yes. Anyway, time to check the thermometer..."
It was time to remove it, but Claudia finally spoke.
"Um... Teacher Theo, I have... something to ask..."
"Yes, Claudia? Ask away."
I'd answer ten questions if it broke this awkwardness.
Getting timid Claudia to open up wasn't easy. She hemmed and hawed, lips twitching, as I waited patiently.
"By any chance..."
By any chance?
"D-did you... with Aria..."
With Aria...? I could guess how the question ended without hearing the rest.
"...do it...?"
Yep, right on the nose. Now the question was how to answer...
Tell the simple truth, or lie. Two choices. But did I need to hide it with a lie? Aria would probably just say, "Oh, really? Got it," even if I told Claudia straight up. Lying would just make me uncomfortable. Better to be honest.
"...Yes."
"H-how far? H-how many times? W-was it... good...?"
Questions poured out the moment I finished. And 'was it good?' What was that?
"Calm down a bit first."
I sat on my chair facing her to help her settle. Her expression was off—eyes brimming like she might cry any second. She stared at me with moist eyes.
"I didn't tell Aria what we did, so same goes the other way."
Right? It was logical and fair. But logic never worked well against heightened emotions.
"P-please tell me... Yes? U-uw, uuu..."
Now she was throwing a tantrum. She'd cried and whined like a child a few years back, but never as an adult...
Also, she was getting close. Really close. She'd leaned in while complaining, closing the distance. She was even grabbing my arm, pulling me toward her.
"Y-you'll tell me, right...? Teacher Theo is... so kind..."
The mood felt odd. I'd just been called mean on the way here.
"I told you, Claudia. No."
Something about her tantrum seemed suspicious. Not simple curiosity—there was a reason she needed to know...
...Ah.
I realized too late. The Goddess's scriptures even had a line for this: 'Desire and jealousy are neighbors. The way to tame them is much the same.' So Claudia was jealous of Aria right now. She'd confessed her envy when she first saw me with Lucia, and now that she had a connection with me, she was jealous of others.
"Claudia, are you jealous of Aria?"
"Hic!"
A loud hiccup escaped Claudia's wide-eyed mouth.
Hmm. Now I got it.
"Be honest. You were jealous, right?"
"N-no... n-not at all..."
Her voice shrank instantly. She slyly released my arm and looked away. Once I had a sense of it, her inner thoughts were crystal clear.
"Don't lie. You were curious what Aria and I did. You wanted something even naughtier?"
"U-uh... N-no, that's not... n-nooo..."
I grabbed her arm as she tried to slip away—this time pulling her toward me, forcing her to face me directly.
"Ah, uw, e-eyes..."
Unable to look away, Claudia squeezed her eyes shut in desperation.
"Open your eyes."
"...Y-yes..."
As if she'd obey with just those words.
"Say it while looking at me. Honestly."
Blink. Her innocent eyes fluttered. My reflection shone in her large pupils. Claudia agonized, conflicted. Finally:
"I... n-never did... anything like that... p-probably, no..."
Her lie was so flimsy. No real intent to fool me. And now I sensed why. She wanted to be scolded. Didn't want to fall behind Aria.
"Still lying to the end, Claudia."
I lowered my voice, hardened my face—pretending to be angry. Sure enough, she gulped and waited obediently. Not quite a scared rabbit, but close.
"S-so... what...?"
"I'll punish you until you're honest."
The corners of her mouth twitched upward, Claudia. Without warning, I stood abruptly from the chair. Walked to the infirmary door. Locked it loudly enough for her to hear.
Click.
"H-hee, h-hic...♡"
To Claudia, that sound was like a starting bell—she swallowed deeply.
Turning back after locking the door, she wasn't even pretending to hide her emotions anymore. The apprentice saintess waited for me with an expression full of eager anticipation. More precisely, for me—and the punishment I'd give. The masochistic apprentice saintess.