The Wonder Trio is Shockingly Ideal

[NicTheDjinn]

Yuuei's hero course students had been through a lot in their first year, particularly those in class 1-A. While the recognition would help them in their future careers, it put a big strain on them as students, resulting in more pup packs being formed than usual. While these weren't exactly unusual either, the knowledge that Yuuei had set the standard for hero courses to have assigned packs often kept the students from forming pup packs in fear that they would grow too emotionally attached and be broken apart come second year. This practice was seen as very controversial when it was first implemented, but given how successful the program had proven itself, it had become normalized in hero courses.

The ending of first year had been bitter-sweet as a result. They were all, of course, excited to have passed their first year, but they all dreaded the thought of being forced into packs not of their choosing. Surely the school would choose well...? Sometimes what we naturally want isn't what's best for you after all... Still, they unwisely came back to school with expectations. While many of them had avoided getting into properly structured packs, there were two prominent ones in their class that most expected to be kept together. Sure enough, as soon as they all got back the two packs fell in with each other like always, Bakugou surrounded by Kirishima, Kaminari, Sero, and Ashido while Midoriya, Uraraka, Tsuyu, and Todoroki crowded around Iida in the back corner while they all waited for class to start in varying levels of anxious.

Tenya called for everyone to return to their assigned seating neigh instantaneously as the door opened to reveal their ever exhausted teacher. The man didn't look happy to be back in class, particularly with the assignments looming. The brunette man waited for everyone to reluctantly flit back to their seats, sit and grow quiet so he could easily speak to them all. "Welcome back. I hope you all enjoyed your breaks as we'll be only be working harder from here on out." His words were far from surprising he'd hope, considering things always escalated in a course like this. "This year you'll be sorted on packs based on phycological profiles gather over the course of your first year as well as quirk compatibility. Shinsou, as you came in late in the year, your assignment will be delayed for now. You may appeal your assignments once every three months, however, this does not guarantee a reassignment. Alright... Let's get this over with... Aoyama..."

And so they started to be sorted knowing many of them would be switching dorms, not to mention assigned seating so that their packs would sit together in class as well. Starting with their first member, the rest of the pack would be called in seating order till the pack was complete before moving on to the first member of the next pack. Tragically, the upset started almost immediately. After Aoyama was called, Ashido was startled to hear her own name and though she hadn't expected it, she didn't panic right off. That was till their third member was called. Satou. That meant that she wasn't in a pack with either Kirishima or Kaminari. She looked visibly distressed as her eyes pleaded with their teacher, a sound of distress leaving her as Yaoyorozu was called. The brunette was in the 20th seat so there was no one else to call after her. The entire class so bored up as Ashido became the first to be completely isolated from her established pack.

Already Aoyama had turned and reached to take one of her soft pink hands, giving it a squeeze as the eccentric omega offered what comfort he could to the overwhelmed alpha. Despite the fact she accepted the comfort, it didn't stop her from looking back at her equally distressed former pack mates. And so things continued with the next pack and upset starting with Tsuyu. Tsuyu, Kouda, Shouji, Tokoyami. Midoriya's pack lost their first member, equally as isolated as Ashido had been. Tenya in turn reaches to give her shoulder a squeeze, her hand coming up to pat his as she smiled reassuringly to the rest. They would all be alright and though she was sad, she didn't want them to worry. Next came Iida, Ojiro, Jirou, Hagakure with a similar distressed reaction as Iida was sorted out of their pup pack as well. Next came Uraraka, Kaminari, Kirishima, and Sero. While some of them had been excited in contrast to their distressed members, This was the first pack that was all excited to be with each other. Three were hyped to have remained together while they were happy to welcome their new member. Kirishima even punched a fist in the air and got the gesture back just as enthusiastically from Ochako only for his expression to be the first to fall as realization hit him. Slowly he looked over at Bakugou, now the last to be cut off from their pack, the rest sobering up at the realization that none of them had remained with him.

The shock was enough that many of them failed to realize who of them were left. "Todoroki. Bakugou. Midoriya. You three will be our final pack."

Shouto found himself was torn. He hadn't expected to be part of a pack till second year, to begin with, but as he had been, it hurt to watch one pack member after another be separated from them till the last remaining three were himself, Bakugou, and Izuku. At least he and Katsuki were friends by this point and he was certainly very close with Midoriya, but were they really a good match? Particularly as theirs was also the smallest pack with only three members. Was that really enough for them to balance properly as was the purpose of these packs? He frowned slightly in thought. Would Izuku be alright without the others so suddenly? Would he be? He'd been close with his pack by the end as well after all. What's more, it was no secret that Bakugou had gotten very attached to his pup pack and would surely rebel against this. Would they lose him in three months? Could they really be a pack with just two or would they be absorbed into other packs? He supposed time would tell...

[Gaudcomplex]

Izuku couldn’t really play act at being surprised at this turnout. He’d spent the better part of his summer going over his notes, reading about past heroes and their assigned packs from high school. He’d written up at least four different factor combinations in an attempt to emulate what had to be the formula of sorts they used to determine the most auspicious packs. The goal was to predict who would end up where, and why, and he was…actually pretty close, with a few misses here and there.

He had no way of predicting that his own pack would be so small, but it made sense when looking at their combined statistics. The three of them were exceedingly powerful for Individuals as young as they were, and bonding them into a pack meant less risk of a truly harmful rivalry sprouting up between them in the future. They wanted heroes that worked together, of course. Given Katsuki’s competitive nature, and Izuku’s bullheaded stubbornness, it only stood to reason they’d be grouped up with someone like Shouto, who offset them perfectly.

Unfortunately though, he could only be calculative and subjective to a certain extent. Almost his whole pack was scattered to the winds now, and that stung. They were his first real and true friends in…well he couldn’t recall, and losing that support system so soon after gaining it was bound to do some damage. Not only that, but despite predicting it, being packed up with Katsuki had the omega on edge and wary. He at least had Todoroki, and took comfort in that. He fidgeted with the already-worn top corner of his journal, gaze fixed on the blank page as he tried not to let his emotions get the better of him. God, he’d miss his pack.

[LovelyBones]

He couldn't fucking believe this. Katsuki's knuckles were white with how tightly balled they were as, one by one, he lost his pack members, the people he had confided in for support and comfort. Now they expected him to go through all of that again?! And with Deku and Todoroki at that?! He stood so quickly his seat had clattered behind him, his palms smoking as he barely contained the explosions that tried to slip through the cracks. "This is fucking BULLSHIT!! How the hell do you expect me to fucking be packed with two fucks that already had each other, hah?!" He asked of his teacher, hackles raised. Really, he wasn't pissed at Aizawa-- he was distraught, naturally, and Katsuki rarely showed intense emotions other than rage in front of others.

"I don't care who the fuck plotted these placements-- I'm NOT starting from scratch again!! Do those bastards have any idea how long it took any of us to get close and feel secure after everything that happened last year?!" He heard a murmur among his classmates, and it was a comfort to know he wasn't entirely alone on this. "Not everyone can pick up their baggage and just dump it on someone else!!" There was a subtle tremble in his frame as he uttered that last sentence, so subtle joy Izuku would be able to see if he was looking closely. Sure, Katsuki had grown since last year as far as being strong enough to express himself better, even through a veil of anger, but he would be damned if he explained himself further about his baggage. After all, most everyone knew already, between shared trauma or witnessing it on the news.

It didn't mean that he'd trust anyone with how he really felt about each experience, how weak and vulnerable each one made him feel. It was safe to say no one could blame him for avoiding slime-quirked people as much as he possibly could, for example, or how being bound in any way gave him a deep anxiety, regardless of the promise of being freed after. This poor soul was riddled with PTSD and the fact he has to unload all of that all over again made him sick to his stomach, especially with how hard it was to do so the first time with his pup pack.

It was unfair, in his mind, calculations be damned.

[NicTheDjinn]

It wasn't the least bit surprising that Midoriya was quietly, if perhaps nervously, waiting for the boy before him to predictably explode, but then again, the entire class had been bracing themselves for it more and more with each pack member being pulled away from Bakugou's side. As expected, as soon as the last remaining students in their class were dumped into the last pack, a meager trio no less, the outburst came. It was no more of a surprise to their Teacher as it was to the rest of the class.

"With the exception of Shinsou, you've all been in the same class for a year, you're not the only one with baggage and we're all at least fairly familiar with what we all carry. Pro Heroes work in the most dangerous field in the world with one of the highest fatality rates. While packs are a more casual thing for most people and finding a group that will coddle you and makes you feel warm and safe is something most can indulge in, for heroes it's not so simple." The man took a deep breath through his nose as if trying to literally breathe in the patience he wasn't feeling at that moment.

"Hero work is not only dangerous but stressful. It's been proven that the most successful heroes have been part of healthy packs that can properly support them. The purpose of the packs you've all been sorted into is to not only provide much-needed emotional support for when the stress piles up, but also to challenge and complement your abilities. Your packmates are there to help you grow and improve, not to shelter you and let you get comfortably stagnant. That might be fine for most, but we expect better of hero students and from experience know that this results in stronger, more stable minded heroes. Regardless, if you'd been paying attention, I already explained that you may attempt an appeal of the school's assignments every three months."

"Shinsou, at the three-month mark you will be sorted into a pack unless we're certain of which pack you would be best suited before then. I'm sure you're eager to be part of a solid pack, but know these assignments are very carefully chosen, we want to be sure you end up with the best pack possible for your growth. If there are no other questions...?" And so the conversation was being forced to a close with a pointed if almost bored look at their angriest blond.

"If you would all please listen out for your new seating assignments..." And so their names were all called once again, though the assignments seemed to be more focused on keeping as little room between pack members as possible, groups of two by two seating being the basis for most of the formations. The most obvious exception was, of course, Bakugou, Midoriya, and Todoroki's pack as they lacked the numbers for such a grouping. Instead, they ended up with Midoriya remaining behind Bakugou, Todoroki to Bakugou's right, and Shinsou behind Todoroki and to Izuku's right for the time being as he was currently the odd man out. Worse, the rest of Bakugou's pup-pack seem to have all been seated on the other side of the class... This couldn't have been an accident they had to be purposely putting physical distance between them. Their pup-pack wasn't getting special treatment however as it seemed the same thing had been done with Midoriya's pack, keeping him and Shouto far from their old companions.

Shouto recognized that they were purposely being isolated from their old packs as best as seating arrangements would allow. It would force the transition between packs to happen more quickly as the sudden lack of their packs would make them instinctively try to fill that void with the intention being them filling it with their new assignments. It felt cruel, but considering they only had two years to form as tight a bond as possible before being released to the world, it made sense. All the same, this was going to be a rough start. He, at least, had Midoriya to lean on, but Bakugou was surely feeling particularly isolated and even betrayed. He figured now was as good a time as any to try and start acting like a pack, but how does one comfort a raging bull that happened to be equipped with an explosion quirk? Still, he felt like he should at least try, even if he might not be very receptive at the moment.

"I know this is going to be a rough transition for all of us, but we don't have much choice for the moment. All three of us have had it rough and I understand it's hard to trust other people with things that hurt us. Class is getting started now, but why don't we eat lunch together? We need to figure out who's dorm we'll be moving into anyway, right?" He really hoped that would set them on the right path... With how goal-oriented Bakugou was, it may help to give him something to focus his energy on. Then again, he was well known for his stubborn nature and might simply refuse to do so out of spite for the situation he's being forced into. They'd only just started class and already he was feeling tired... This was going to be a long day. What's more, surely they would have their first pack centric hero class today too. While they were all good at working in teams at this point, the mood might trip them up anyway...

[Gaudcomplex]

As name after name was called, Izuku watched with forlorn eyes as his closest companions, who occasionally looked back at him with equally somber gazes, were sorted out of his reach. It stung. Sure, he’d see them elsewhere, and could hang out outside of school, but it simply wasn’t the same when one was restricted from maintaining a bond as significant as that of a pack -novice or otherwise. Most of his free time would have to be spent within this new pack, and any comfort he sought would have to be with them. He knew how assigned packs worked, had studied them intensely. The trio would be made to function together in a way that usually came naturally with a self-formed pack, and work at it until it actually did come naturally. A fake it if you make it, if you will. He eyed Katsuki’s seething form warily and shifted his gaze before the other could catch him. It would be a lot of conscious effort, the omega was sure.

Impulse and the need for physical reassurance had Izuku tentatively reaching over to Shouto, the only other member of his previous pack. He held onto the beta’s sleeve as if worried he too would somehow drift away. He would have reached for Bakugo too, but didn’t want to risk any of that ire turning onto him, at least not for the time being. Izuku could handle a lot, but not when he was particularly emotionally raw.

“Uh- if I’m not mistaken, I think they’ve altered the dorms for packs? Probably why we weren’t allowed into the actual dorms this week.” He replied, nodding towards Todoroki. Previously, it had been split into the boys and girls wings, with a certain area on each floor containing various amenities, but had been renovated into apartments of sorts over the summer, housing three packs per wing. Each dorm/apartment had been outfitted with its own kitchen etc. a pricy venture, no doubt, but no expenses had been spared for this round of especially promising young heroes. Given how quickly the Heights Alliance buildings were built the year prior, it only stood to reason they hadn’t already been prepared for the pack assignments. While the assignments weren’t new, dorming packs together on UA campus most certainly was. It was a setup for either total success or absolute disaster, if not both.

[LovelyBones]

When Shoto had spoken to Katsuki, the blonde bristled, hating that the other was trying to, essentially do his job as a new pack member already. Just cuz they were friends, didn't mean he would be readily able to unload everything, and while he knew little bits and pieces about the other two in his assigned pack, he doubted they'd wanna unload to him. Especially Izuku, after everything just the two had for baggage. To Katsuki, it would be so much easier staying closed off as long as he could before even risking that shitshow. Sure, he's grown since the start and eventual end of the rocky period between him and Izuku, but.... Even Katsuki knew that forgiveness wasn't expected, even for tamer things. The guilt alone kept him from attempting a proper apology, verbal or written, knowing damn well how he'd react if Izuku rejected his sincerity after sitting on it for so long.

The guy needed therapy, really.

"Whatever.... I doubt I'll eat much anyways after this fucking bombshell." He muttered in reply to Shoto's offer, which more or less translated as, 'Yeah, I'll sit with you guys at least. Don't expect much though.' However, the explosive teen wasn't blind, and saw how Izuku reached for Shoto, and felt a bit of ugly, painful jealousy. One, related to his own failings as a childhood friend, and then to how he was the odd one out between the three. He needed to have his soul seemingly crushed into his body at times, but he didnt know if either of the other two would be willing to do that with him. His gaze wandered to Kirishima, and had to refrain from letting out a rare, pathetic keen only the redhead ever heard. It was a miracle that rock-head stuck around him after he confessed to all the shitty things he's done to others, especially Izuku. But, Katsuki wasn't allowed to have that comfort now, was he? He gritted his teeth as the topic of the dorms was brought up, and he gruffed quietly, hating how efficient the school was at the moment. "I swear, if they fucking make us stay in one bedroom together...." He growled, his knuckles turning white again. He preferred his privacy, and if even that was taken away, he'll march straight to Nezu's office and scruff that rat-bear so he can't escape his wrath.

[NicTheDjinn]

He noticed movement and when he looked he found himself being reached for, timid fingers taking hold of the edge of his jacket sleeve. So Izuku was distressed enough to seek comfort in public like this? He could relate, honestly, and he'd noticed a couple of their classmates already seeking comfort among their newly assigned packs. He wondered how many of these artificially designed packs would last past school. There was technically nothing keeping them from simply tolerating them till they graduated then breaking away as adults. He hadn't heard of any incidents like that, but then again, he hadn't researched either. He doubted the school would continue to use a system that didn't have at least fairly consistent success rates.

That was a worry for another time as he was well aware that any pack changes would have to wait for at least 3 months. For now, he focused on his new packmates. He turned in his chair and reached out to take Izuku's hand in his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I heard that the dorms were originally designed for privacy, but it caused overcrowding issues when all the third years and most of the second years all piled into rooms meant for only one person so they've remodeled all the second and third-year dorms to be apartments instead. Four people seem to be the average size of pack assignments so I can see how that would be cramped."

Thankfully, Katsuki accepted his invitation to eat lunch together, even if he didn't think he would have much of an appetite. He supposed that was only natural, the day had been pretty stressful as it was. Still, the fact he was going to sit with them instead of trying to drag his old pack back together was a good sign. Honestly, with the look he was giving his old pack members, he was surprised he wasn't going to be trying to do just that, he clearly wanted to be with them. His unoccupied hand reached out then, but the too cool appendage instead came to rest on Bakugou's desk, palm up. Though he made no move to touch him, the offer to hold hands with him as well. While he didn't expect it to be taken, he lacked the trained in fear the greenette had of their blond packmate.

"I don't know... I've only heard that they're apartment-like so I assume there must be at least two rooms, a communal space and at least one bedroom. He frowned a little, that lack of information was bothering him so he chose to find out for them. He looked to the front of the class at their tired teacher currently explaining that yes, Uraraka would be staying in the same dorm as them and that they had better not take advantage of her. While the warning seemed needless for someone like Kirishima, Sero and Kaminari were the class perverts so he supposed the warning was fitting enough. As soon as he seemed to be finished, he spoke up.

"Aizawa-sensei," he prompted simply, waiting for those bloodshot eyes to turn towards him and the, "Yes...?" that came in acknowledgment. Shouto took his cue to continue, "How are the dorms going to be structured? Do we have private bedrooms?"

As it was a reasonable question to ask, the man didn't seem to be annoyed by it. "The apartments consist of one living area with a very basic kitchen and attached bathroom. The second, third and fourth floors each have four dorms, each with three small bedrooms and one larger one. The fifth floors sport only two dorms, these with four small rooms and one large one. The larger bedrooms are intended to be used by nesting omegas and packs that prefer to sleep as a group. This bedroom is also equipped with a bathroom. It isn't very large, but it is bigger than what you had before as it has a bathtub as well. The kitchen, for what it is, consists of a single burner, a microwave, a mini-fridge, and a sink. There is storage under the sink and burners." With that said, he turned his attention back to the rest of his anxious students, trying to answer all their questions, but for once not attempting to keep their attention. They needed to bond and tend to the fresh wounds of packs being broken up so suddenly.

While their sensei had been explaining dorm layouts. Kirishima, every tuned to Bakugou's moods, had looked over and met his gaze. Where Bakugou had restrained himself, Kirishima failed, whining for his lost pack leader, tears welled up in his eyes, moving in such a way that made it clear that it was taking everything in him to stay put. Uraraka looked over and found herself feeling overwhelmed along with the faux redhead. Both needing comfort, she left her seat only to plunk down in his lap, the two clung to each other for comfort, but both sets of eyes were fixated on the trio across the room.