College life wasn't difficult if you knew the right things and could do a trick or two to get scholarships. Thankfully [M/N] did know a trick, and kept on it until the last of his High School year. He was accepted to Teyvat University without much trouble, at first was generally studious until he chose criminology as a major to maybe work with police or criminal profiler. Something cool and would make great money with the right type of employer. So far he remembered a lot of things, along with being blunt when answering questions. His mock profile cases and interviews. It went great for [M/N].

Now he was in his third semester with a working podcast that was supported by the branch at the University. Last year the Podcast was with the biology board until their main producer and talker had graduated so the Criminology branch took it over. Because of [M/N]'s grades and being almost a senior, he was able to do it. But then he had to hire a little crew and gathered most of the semi-losers and semi-outcasts in his classes or followed the scrutiny of the other student's posts.

"Is everything on?" [M/N] asked from the microphone, they had gathered enough for the case they were looking over. 

"Everything is set up, including the neon sign!" Hu Tao said brightly as she clicks the sign that turned neon red for a moment before turning it off. She cursed silently before fiddling with the plug, "Aya, looks like it still needs to be fixed. Anyway, everything is still on and ready to record."

"How about you Xingqiu?" [M/N] asked his co-star who smirks at him, "What?"

"I am fully prepared but the question is, are you prepared?" Xingqiu asked as he kept that sly smirk on his face. For a sophomore, he was pretty snarky and full of himself already. [M/N] sometimes he could fire the guy but at least he actually helps move things and gather data, even if he is lazy sometimes. 

"I am, what about you Chongyun?" [M/N] glanced at the beta who was sitting there and perked up when his name was called. He was her for his own input and [M/N] felt kind of bad for the light blue-haired omega, he seemed so attached to Xingqiu too.

"Ready to present!" He beams as [M/N] smiles a bit as he glanced at Hu Tao, she grins and starts up the recorders. The sign on the door lights up, ON AIR, was on and gleams off the blackened windows. [M/N] watched the microphone before looking at his notes.

"Welcome back to Teyvat University's own crime podcast, featuring today's case-" The sign turns off and the recording beeps to a pause causing [M/N] to snap his head towards the door as Hu Tao peeked up. 

"Dude, we were barely recording." [M/N] huffed as she walked in, in her hands was her phone.

"Dude, the department head just called," Hu Tao replied as she held it up, "He wants you over there to talk about something big or ya know...cancel this whole project together." [M/N] groans as he stands up, and yanked his book bag up. "Fine, I'll see you guys on Thursday then."

"Not me, I have to work at my grandpa's parlor!" Hu Tao reminded.

"I have some homework and a late project going to be due soon, so count me out too," Xingqiu added as he picks up his things to leave.

"...I don't want to come alone," Chongyun admitted.

"Valid, okay then in another week, you guys stay safe." [M/N] said as he began leaving the podcast room and down the stairs since the shitty elevator was still broken in the building. He reached the final level and out the door, he began walking towards the administrative office for the criminology branch. Teyvat Uni is stretched out, with seven large buildings for many things. He only went into four of the seven for work.  Mondstadt Building was for the arts and many liberal things especially music and culinary. 

Liyue Building was dedicated to law and criminology along with other basic subjects like English. Lots of teachers from different backgrounds teach there along with many other students that traveled from other countries to study here. 

Inazuma was where the real business was at, from business degrees to anything with management. Not a lot of free study spaces, but the best cafeteria on campus.

Sumeru was where of the very best study spots and one of the best libraries on campus. Not to mention all the classes there were education-based, studies into different countries or languages along with engineering. Unfortunately, they were snotty like most of the professors too.

[M/N] didn't know much about the other buildings, since he never actively visited them. Though he heard the Snezhnaya one was very cold, even during the winter time. 

He heads into the admission building and the elevator below, moving in the direction of the Criminology advisor. [M/N] knocks as a simple, "Come in" was answered. [M/N] opens it and heard the clicking of Dottore's pen. He turns around with a grin, red eyes glimmering a bit at the sight of [M/N]. 

"Please, sit! Sit, I have some splendid news." Dottore says as [M/N] closed the door behind him before glancing at the chair.

[Q] Sit down
[Q] Stand

+++

[Q] Stand

"If it's alright with you Professor Dottore, I'll stand."

"That's fine, do what you like, but you might want to cancel all the cases you have until winter break." [M/N] perked up a bit hearing it, they only had three planned cases while not adding what was supposed to be today. " You remember Celesta correct?"

"I lived there for the majority of my life." [M/N] replied dryly.  Celesta was a city not too far from the college and was raised there along with the other privileged assholes. 

"Well you remember their own serial killer, the limb taker or the limb shaker," Dottore said, as he pulled up a large file and slammed it down, "and excitingly enough, it seemed the murder has returned ~"

"You seem awfully gleeful." [M/N] admitted as he saw the file as the professor opened the folder as many news articles and other documentary evidence that was printed online. "What does this have to do with me?"

"I remembered that your admission essay was about the murder and even took up the opportunity to read it again. So, as my head student,"

"Shikanoin's Head student," [M/N] sighs.

"I want you to look up at the case, the reports, the interviews." Dottore ignored the correction, "Besides don't you have family down there? A little visit to home would be nice."

"I do but they are out of state at the moment, but I don't know if I can actually do anything with the case. The new chief of police and ya know..pulling away from the media." He knew the Chief, he was her study partner. "Besides, it's a new case and the podcast handles older cases or cold unsolved ones."

"I know, but there is a much sweeter officer that I emailed and spoke to your other teachers about." [M/N]'s eyebrow raised a bit as Dottore grins again, "If you do this for the podcast, you will get an A in each class, not to mention if the podcast helps the case."

"Is that ethically allowed?" [M/N] asked, a positive grade in each class? That would be great for future job offers and his GPA.

"Not really but it comes with good publicity." Dottore hummed as he closed the file and placed his hands on it, "and not to mention, good publicity with the working forest, especially with law."

"...Do I get to think about it?" [M/N] asked, the deal sounded good not to mention getting that on a resume than a first flight out of there. What was not to like? But then it involved him going back home, talking with shitty people, and how shitty their lives turned out. Got new health insurance? Cool, but me? I'm out here doing schoolwork for a podcast that could possibly solve the case.

"Nope, I need an answer right now, time is a wasting."

[Q] Yes
[Q] No

+++

[Q] Yes

"I'll do it."

"Good, most of your work will be sent to you with an email from your other classes." Dottore grins as he offered his hand, eyes gleaming at the deal that's been struck. "It will change your view of the world." 

"I know it will." [M/N] sighs as he shakes his hand before getting details, of and an email sent to his student one about meeting the chief this weekend. [M/N] leaves and sighs as he began his journey home, sending text after text to Hu Tao and Xingqiu about it.

Qiu-qiu: That's so cool, but I still think it's very unethical for that grade with the work.

HoeTao: Relax! relax! I mean it is a big deal~ and besides what if you get murdered~

I try not to think about that, but still give me 50% off my coffin. : SugarAlpha

HoeTao: Anything for you bby

[M/N] clicked his phone off and began calling his mother to see if any loose keys were around the home. He wouldn't say anything to give away the true reason to worry her.

+++

[M/N] pulled towards the driveway, sighing as he turns the car off. He could see the cluttered leave piles by the fences and opened the door. He sighs again as he came out of the car and then to the trunk as it popped up. The old home didn't look old, his fingers tighten on the key a bit as he walked up the stairs. His eyes glanced at the new shade of dark blue he put on a few years back, to hide away the ugly black graffiti that once covered it.

Freak!
Monster!
JUST DIE!

[M/N] lifts the bag up the stairs before digging into the potted plant and pulled out a silver key. Slowly he unlocked it and sighs, before hearing chatter. He glanced over to the house beside him and noticed the expensive car in the driveway. His eyes narrowed a bit, before seeing someone come out of the home. He didn't remember anyone living in that house when he visited a few months back.

He kept to himself before entering the home, laying his things on the couch before walking away. [M/N] moved towards the fridge and opened it, but nothing in. [M/N] grumbled loudly before opening his phone for the hours of the nearby store, a lot of them came around the neighborhood. [M/N] saw the times and how far, and deciding to walk for it, he left. [M/N] walked down and towards the store. He hummed to himself before taking the path towards it, it was a large store with some lights out on the sign. It looked nicer inside actually, with lots of shiny floors and nicely stocked shelves.

"Shit, a lot of vegan stuff..." [M/N] hummed as he walked towards the other things, he wasn't a vegan but it was sort of nice to see the store improve with these. [M/N]'s eyes wandered around as he walked, picking up things he did like to eat and others he would eat for the week. Some sandwich meat, chips, and some drinks from tea to soda. He kept walking towards the many aisles with hums a bit before seeing the treat and junk food one. [M/N] walked down it, eyes glanced around as he licked over his lip ring. 

"No way, green tea mochi." [M/N] says as he found the box, he enjoyed the green tea flavor and moved his hand towards it. [M/N] grasped one box into his cart and hand grabbed another but then someone else too. His eyes glanced and locked with teal ones, eyes widening a bit with a scowl trying to pop out.

"Venti?"

"...No way, you came back?" Venti says, shocked.  "Dude..I thought you killed yourself or something."

[Q] Pay and Leave
[Q] Question