Watching different students from different schools go up against each other, using their quirks at full power, so that they could gain a card with their name and face on it, was one of the weirdest things Ushio had ever seen. She got to watch class 1A in action though, and it was surprising to see how much they had grown.

They were definitely at a higher level than they were at the training camp.

They also seemed to be having fun, despite the worried, scared, and shocked faces they wore.

  "Must be nice to be normal."

As entertaining as it was to watch different schools battle it out, Ushio only did it to throw away time and collect information. As the students boarded their buses to return home, she heard snippets of chirpy conversation, most likely from those who passed.

Hmm... At least Ashido looks happy.

Bzzt bzzt.

She looked down at her pager. Professor's orders; she needed to regroup with Trus. She simply sighed a little as she slipped away from the scene.

  "Hmm? Todoroki-kun, what's up?"

  "Oh, Midoriya. I thought I saw..." He shook his head, "Nevermind."

☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

  "That was stupid."

  "You do not trust my methods, Trus?"

  "No, what I don't trust is letting Schnitter do reconnaissance on her own on people that she had more than enough ample time to befriend." The Siren vented to the rather calm professor, "I'm telling you; it's a mistake."

The door opened and Ushio walked in, "I've returned."

  "Ah, Schnitter," Professor Ospen offered a hand, "How was the trip?"

  "Uneventful." She replied blankly, "It is understandable why the League of Villains are interested in them; they exhibit tremendous amounts of growth in such a short time."

Ospen hummed, "Would you be interested to do recon once more—?"

  "Need I remind you," Trus interrupted angrily, "That someone out there is trying to track is down, and for the most part, it is working. I say it again, Schnitter is not ready to be working alone."

  "And why is that?" Professor Ospen cocked a brow with a smile, but was in no joking mood, "Do you believe, perhaps, that Sperling is still alive?"

  "Of course not—"

  "Do you think she's still hunting Schnitter?"

  "No sir, I'm confident in my skill—"

  "IF you are so confident in your skills, then it might do you better to LISTEN and EXECUTE whatever orders I give."

Both Trus and Ushio were drenched in a cold sweat by the time Professor Ospen was done speaking. Sure he was focusing his quirk on Trus, but Ushio was so accustomed to the feeling and knowing what came afterwards, that reacting to it was like a reflex.

A reflex she wanted to get rid of.

The professor cleared his throat, brushing away imaginary crinkles from his coat before locking eyes with Trus.

  "If that is all Siren, you may leave."

Trus gave out a little huff, and against her own will, exited the room. Ushio should've left with her, but something made her hesitate long enough for Ospen to notice.

  "Schnitter."

  "Hm?"

He motioned to the chair opposite of him, "Sit."

She reluctantly sat, and he steepled his fingers in front of him; a sign for her to start talking.

  "Sir, if I may ask; you once mentioned to us that you let the Sperling go... for what purpose?"

He smiled a bit as he seemed to think of his answer, "A long term experiment, one that I'm sure will have extravagant results once successful."

  "Then why terminate Vulkan?"

At that, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

  "Admittedly, her quirk was one to behold, unlike her sister however, the drawbacks were too great for this line of work. She was good to use as a bargaining chip against Sperling," he opened his eyes again before continuing, "further than that, she was nothing more than a liability."

  "Couldn't you just... let her go?" Ushio was almost afraid to ask, so it came out as a half whisper.

  "It might have made Sperling a bit more complacent... but it would've taken much longer to get to where we are." He cast a glance towards her, "You're having second thoughts about yourself?"

She shook her head.

  "Are you lying?"

She shook her head again.

For a second, he did nothing but observe her. Her eyes, her ever changing eyes just like her father's, they wouldn't look at him. Although she did a great job at keeping her face poker, he could tell the confusion and confliction going on behind her eyes. If he did nothing against it, that little bird of his might succeed.

  "I think it's time you join the Alpha Team." His head cocked slightly at her flinching, "Head to the lab to have your headgear checked before meeting up with Mars and Siren."

She stood and turned towards the door, ready to leave when one more question bounced around her mind. She hesitated long enough for him to notice, and long enough for her to hear his hum.

  "Professor... What would you do... if the Sperling... turned herself in...?"

  "That all depends on her terms and conditions," he replied almost instantly, "Sperling is always sure to have at least two."

☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

She was living off ramen, fruits and veggies. The money she found stashed away in the bunker of her now nonexistent house was all that their parents had stocked up on. She could always get more from their accounts, but that would be like wearing bright red on a snowy day, lighting a flare and staying in one place. The police were still after her, she wasn't stupid.

Of course she had other options. Like buying stuff to cook, but that'd mean she'd have more to carry around and clean up. There was also the option of eating out, but she was running low on physical cash and going to an ATM for a top up was risky, so using her card at a good joint was definitely put of the question.

If she was really serious about getting back at Blackmark, with as little repercussions as possible, she needed absolute radio silence. No technology of any kind. No loose ends; none at all.

Sara...

She knew Nagisa was alive, but Nagisa trusted her friend enough to not say a word. The police were still coming at her, but they were quickly fizzing out.

Soon. Soon she'd be able to strike; make that cad pay for everything he'd done.

Soon, she was going to show Luthor Ospen the monster he made.