36 Amitabha, I have sinned.

Haoyu clicked his tongue and edged closer to the professor before speaking.

"Professor, I mean it. I'm feeling extremely jealous. Especially since you're refusing to admit your wrongs." He gazed down at the professor, still in her crouched position.

His momentum was strong and there was a glint in his eyes that Tejumole found somewhat unfamiliar.

"I was with Ikenna and a child I picked up. He has a new roommate." Tejumole rose to her feet and lowered her head to look at the child who still held her hands captive.

She was a little helpless. Didn't she already answer his questions? Why was he still so pouty?

"Okay." Haoyu began and feigned sadness before continuing;

"Sigh…it seems the professor finds other people more important than me. She even left me, a poor, defenceless student, all alone in a place bubbling with all kinds of people. I even had to come home alone amidst the strange gazes of shady individuals. What to do? The professor no longer has me in her heart."

Haoyu rested his chin on his hand as he spouted such shameless words. He enunciated the word 'alone' to emphasize his point.

And though he was lying through his teeth by saying he felt scared, the slight twinkle in his eyes indicated otherwise.

"What a drama king."

Ranta in the system space was listening in on their conversation and couldn't help but twitch his lips.

Surely, his host wouldn't fall for such an obvious hoax.

Contrary to Ranta's wishes, and that of other universal beings, Tejumole who heard about Haoyu's 'sufferings' couldn't help the disturbed feeling that crept into her heart.

Feeling regretful, Tejumole rubbed Haoyu's head, trying to comfort the 'frightened' child, and spoke;

"Little one, it's alright now. Don't be afraid. I promise to accompany you next time." She wasn't exactly the kind to speak endless words of comfort, but her minimal words expressed her concern.

"Ahem…alright." Hearing her speak, Haoyu coughed lightly and felt his conscience take a hit. The professor was so easy to… misinform. Ah, lying made him feel rather guilty.

Ranta who heard his host's words opened his mouth in disbelief.

The host needs deliverance. Get the holy water! This child is dangerous.

'Ahh, my strong, level-headed host. Where is the energy you used to beat up people three times your size? How could you believe his BS?!'

Ranta's squirrely body trembled as he cursed in the space.

Watching these two any longer, he concluded, would give him terrible migraines.

Thinking like this, Ranta cut off the connection and no longer bothered with this situation.

He felt a bit bitter and underneath was a sudden loneliness that caused him to draw circles in the corner.

"Perhaps I should find a girl S.A.I." Ranta wondered.

"Good. Did you already eat? I bought food. It's still hot so…ah?"

Tejumole attempted to leave to bring out the takeaways, but just as she made to take her hand from Haoyu's hold, he dragged her and caused her to fall towards him.

The sudden movement temporarily shocked the professor.

However, thanks to her fast reflexes, she managed to place her hands at the sides of the chair and steadied herself.

"Little one?" She spoke lightly while gazing down at Haoyu.

Apparently, apart from the earlier shock, she didn't find their current position odd.

Tejumole palms rested on the couch by the sides of Haoyu's head, thus creating a small distance between their bodies, as her knee rested between the gaps of his legs for support.

In this intimate position, they were pseudo-straddling.

Haoyu gazed at the professor, who appeared normal and felt quite helpless.

Her reaction was so quick and caused Haoyu to 'tsk' after his plan fell through. But even if she wasn't resting completely in his arms, wasn't she supposed to feel shy and flustered when she was suddenly straddling a man?

She looked worried instead.

Unsatisfied, Haoyu moved his body forwards, lessening the space between them, and smirked when he saw the brown eyes dilate.

"There's no rush, professor. I already ate. Or, were you trying to escape after taking advantage of me? Mm…? There's still a score to settle." Haoyu's eyes narrowed lazily as he watched Tejumole with the corners of his lips slightly stretched.

Feeling awkward at Haoyu's sudden closeness, Tejumole leaned back to create some distance between them.

However, her sudden movements caused the professor to lose her balance and slip from the couch.

"Careful professor." Haoyu spoke, gazing up at Tejumole with a sly grin.

Tejumole blinked as she suddenly found herself trapped within a tight embrace.

In other to prevent the fidgety professor from falling and hitting her head, Haoyu wrapped his hands around her smaller body to steady her clumsy self.

Although, with her reflexes, Tejumole was as nimble as a cat and would balance herself in time.

Not to mention the thick rug on the floor that would keep her from hurting herself should she fall.

Still, it's the thought that counts.

Now, their positions were closer and more intimate than before, with little space between them. They were so close that they could feel the heat emanating from each other's body.

"…Mm." She hummed her thanks and tried to push him away, but the child wasn't budging.

"Professor, didn't you say we should be responsible for our actions? You took advantage of a young man in his sleep. That's a capital offence. Aren't you going to practice what you preach? Won't you take responsibility?" Haoyu's face was just a few inches away from Tejumole's as he questioned her.

At this range, he could make out the faint lines on her neck and glancing upwards, he came in contact with her beautiful facial features.

However, the afro framing her face covered her eyebrows and shielded her eyes from view.

"That's better." While he waited for the silent professor to speak, Haoyu moved the soft hair out of the way.

Now, those familiar brown globes were shown in all their spellbinding glory.

Tejumole watched his actions quietly. Outside she looked calm, but internally the professor was mulling over what Haoyu had said.

If…if she looked at it from a moral standpoint, then she had indeed committed a crime.

Should Haoyu be a girl who was…explored by a pervert then she, as the pervert, would be lucky to only get burned with a tire in the market square.

However, looking at the child who still smiled at her after she had committed such travesty, Tejumole felt remorse wash over her.

'Amitabha, I have sinned.' She chanted those words from a Buddhist scripture she read in her head.

Her thoughts ran wild, and she didn't notice the multiple expressions that appeared on her face, while she processed Haoyu's accusations.

In a sense, she resembled a kaleidoscope.

Haoyu who saw the changing expressions on Tejumole's face let out a chuckle.

"Professor, what are you thinking about?" Haoyu questioned smilingly. 'Is she looking for an excuse to get out of this situation?' He wondered, but was determined not to let this slide. His earlier sufferings could not be forgotten.

"He-he…" Thinking like this, Haoyu opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the professor.

"I'll take responsibility, little one."

"What did you say?" Haoyu raised his brows. Were his ears playing with him?

"I said… I'll take responsibility." Tejumole repeated her words solemnly. Her expression was one filled with righteousness, like she would give her all to accomplish heaven's mandate.

Seeing her determined look, Haoyu's eyes flickered, and a certain expression graced his face.

"Hmm…how do you attempt to do that? Mind you, it must be something I'm satisfied with, else how will I ever get past this shock?" Haoyu spoke lightly and wondered what the professor had in mind.

Tejumole lowered her eyelids, and pondered briefly before looking into the black eyes.

"You can touch me as well." She stated in a resigned tone and turned her head to the side.

What better way to make things right than by letting the 'victim' take out his anger in the same manner?

It made sense to the professor, who mentally patted herself for coming up with such a great plan.

Seconds passed, and the room remained silent. Tejumole found it odd and lowered her head to look at the child, but his gaze startled her.

Haoyu's eyes were still and intense. The black irises that she always found pristine looked even darker than ever. In addition, his gaze was so sharp that she couldn't help but feel like the little one at the moment seemed…hungry?