Banquet Aftermath (2)
People began to rise from the tables one by one. Cleaning up after the banquet was the teachers' job. Of course, that included me. Usually, it was me—the youngest here by far—or Teresa who handled it... but today, I was on my own. As soon as the banquet ended, Teresa had dragged Claudia off for a walk. Ignoring the look in Claudia's eyes as she glanced back at me had been pretty tough.
"This should just about do it... now I just need to move the tables."
There weren't that many people, so there wasn't much to clean up. Once I hauled the tables to the storage room next door, I'd be done. But first, there was something else I had to take care of.
I'd been sensing someone hovering out in the hallway for a while now. It had to be Lucia. She was waiting for me to finish up.
I took a deep breath to steel myself, then walked toward the hallway.
Sure enough. The moment I opened the door, our eyes met.
"Lucia."
"Ah... T-Teo, Teacher Theo."
Her voice was thick with tension.
"You said you wanted to see me for a moment? The cleanup's basically done. Come on in. We can talk inside."
I tried to lead her naturally into the banquet room, but...
"...No."
"Pardon?"
"H-Here is fine. I don't want to take up too much of your time..."
That was unexpected. Now I was the one feeling a bit off about it.
"W-Well, if that's what you prefer."
The hallway was practically deserted anyway. No reason for me to push back.
Lucia took a steadying breath and began.
"Actually, I was hoping to see you today, Teacher. But I heard you were busy."
I'd managed to sort out the busy part somehow. But her atmosphere was so serious, I couldn't just butt in like that. Her hands still trembled faintly as they clutched the hem of her habit—like when she'd handed me that apple pie.
"I had a feeling why. The examination you mentioned before... this must be an extension of that..."
Lucia had come to the same conclusion as Aria. That instinct that she wasn't the only one in this kind of relationship with me.
"You're right."
No point lying at this stage. She fell silent for a moment after my honest confirmation. Then she changed the subject slightly.
"...Teacher, do you remember the tea you brewed for me before?"
The tea. A few months back, when her sleepless nights had me preparing special blends for her.
"Of course I do."
"Lately I've been sleeping well, so no worries there, but sometimes... I crave that tea again."
I could vaguely understand why she'd brought up the tea. It wasn't just about satisfying desires with me. It was like that tea—small, caring gestures. Gifts that were sweet enough without being overly stimulating. That's what had let her open up to me so honestly about her desires.
It made me reflect a little.
"M-My desires still need you, Teacher Theo... I'm sorry."
Her cheeks flushed with her usual shyness.
"I know you have to look after the others too, so I can hold back. I can wait. But... if it drags on too long... I don't like that."
I'd been too hasty. How could I forget that love or desire always involved emotions? If Claudia felt anxiety and jealousy, what about Lucia? It felt similar but different. She didn't want to monopolize me, but she hoped for some attention too. She could wait, but not if her turn got pushed back too far. It resembled jealousy, but I couldn't pin it down exactly...
Whatever. She was adorably cute.
"Even if you have busy days like today, Teacher Theo, I hope you remember. I want to repay the love you've given me... I'll always be waiting."
As she finished, she gave me a warm smile. Honestly, I felt a bit guilty—and touched. My assessment that she could become a saintess tomorrow wasn't wrong. Devotion, compassion, selflessness... any warm virtue fit her perfectly.
What could I do for someone like her? Plenty. I wasn't confident I'd do it perfectly, but it was something only I could handle here at the Saintess Training Institute.
"Lucia."
"Yes, Teacher Theo?"
"Are you free right now?"
I just came out and asked directly.
"I-I have time, but you said you had something urgent today..."
"Teresa's covering for me."
It was a white lie to smooth things over, but who cared right now?
"First, I have a few questions."
"P-Pardon? A-Ask anything, please."
I wanted to understand her feelings in more detail.
"During the banquet earlier, you looked a bit tense... Why was that?"
I didn't know what she and Aria talked about, but her expression had been stiff.
"Ah... Y-You mean my expression..."
"Please answer honestly."
She hesitated, unable to meet my eyes. But eventually, she confessed.
"It was because... Serena was sitting next to you."
Jealousy after all?
"I kept thinking... if I'd been in that seat, what would we have talked about..."
What was this? It was like watching a schoolgirl with a crush.
"I-Is that all?"
I was so baffled I started stuttering myself.
"...Yes."
She covered her flushed cheeks with her hands, averted her gaze, and added what sounded like an excuse.
"Is that too childish? If it worried you, I'm sorry..."
"No, it's not that..."
She's so cute. Having such shy, lovable thoughts... while unleashing the most lascivious sounds and expressions when we sate her desires.
It shifted something in my thinking. This wasn't just about doing what the Goddess ordered. I wanted to make Lucia feel good—even more lewdly. To draw out her desires even more honestly toward me. And release them all myself.
"Lucia, as I said, I'm not busy right now."
"Ah, yes... I remember."
"So I want to take care of your desires now."
Too direct? Her eyes widened a bit, and after a brief silence, she replied.
"If... if it's because of what I just said, I'm okay."
Even now, she politely declined once. Well, I had no intention of backing down.
"No. I want to. If you're alright with it."
As soon as possible. Right now would be even better.
Of course, Lucia didn't refuse twice. She nodded slightly, glancing unnecessarily down the empty hallway.
"Yes... I-I'd like that too. Then, to the infirmary..."
Come to think of it, we'd always met in the infirmary so far. It was my domain, so it made sense as a cover. But no need to stick to it.
"Let's do it here today. The cleanup's done."
I meant the banquet room behind me, mostly cleared out. No one coming, quiet. And above all, we could start immediately.
"W-Won't someone come...?"
"It's fine. No one comes here unless there's a banquet."
Once I'd reassured her, she followed me inside. Being alone in a place we'd just shared with everyone felt strangely thrilling. It had been filled with chatter and laughter moments ago. Now it hummed with silence, tension, anticipation—thick in the air. Knowing we were about to do something deeply intimate made it even more electric.
Perfect. I had time, and the drive to sate her desires. But now a small selfish whim bubbled up. Something I'd wanted to try once but kept postponing amid the urgency of our sessions.
"Lucia. Before we sate your desires, I have one request."
I closed the door after her, sealing us off from the outside.
"Yes, what is it?"
She looked tense but a little excited.
"I... I want to kiss you. We've done everything else, so asking for this now feels a bit embarrassing. But so what? I just want to. I have desires too. And since I'm about to do so much more, this should be fine."
"Ah, k-Kissing..."
What if she said no?
"That... well..."
W-Wait. Was it really a no? After a slight hesitation, she looked up at me slyly and continued.
"Wouldn't that... count as part of sating my d-desires too...?"
"...Ah."
Understanding hit instantly. My hands moved on their own. I grasped her shoulders, pulled her close—right up to me.
"......"
Lucia quietly closed her eyes and tilted her head up toward me.
I don't even remember what happened next. One moment later, her soft, warm tongue was touching mine. The kiss carried the sweet, tangy apple scent from the pie. Apples—the red ones grown on the trees here at the Saintess Training Institute. The flower's meaning: temptation, and choice.