Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Unlikely Leader
The buzz in Class 1-A was louder than usual that morning. Everyone had been talking about the sports festival that was rumored to be announced soon. UA High School's Sports Festival was not just any event; it was the event. The entire country watched, scouting agencies kept an eye out for new talent, and it was the first real step toward becoming a pro hero. For first-years like Gojo Satoru and his classmates, it was a chance to make a name for themselves.
Gojo walked in, blindfold still securely in place, his hands in his pockets as he casually strolled to his seat. He flashed a grin at Tamaki, who sat nearby, already lost in his nervous thoughts about the day ahead.
"You look like you're about to face a death sentence," Gojo said casually, leaning back in his chair.
Tamaki shifted awkwardly, trying to hide his nerves. "It's… It's not that. Just… the pressure, you know?"
Gojo waved it off, his arrogant smirk firmly in place. "Pressure? Please. You guys act like we're not the strongest class here. We've got me, and that's all you need."
"Typical Gojo," Aiko Fujimoto said with a sigh from the other side of the room. "Always so humble."
"Hey, if you're this good, why not embrace it?" Gojo replied, shooting her a finger gun with an exaggerated wink.
Keiko rolled her eyes. "There's a difference between confidence and arrogance, Gojo. You need to dial it down before it gets you into trouble."
"Trouble?" Gojo scoffed. "The only trouble I get into is deciding what to eat for lunch. Now that's hard."
The class collectively groaned, but some couldn't help but laugh at Gojo's antics. He always had a way of diffusing tension, even if it came off as cocky.
Suddenly, Aizawa-sensei walked into the room, looking as tired and disinterested as ever. His eyes were half-open, and his hair looked like it had never seen a comb. He slouched behind his desk, but his mere presence was enough to silence the class.
"Alright, settle down," Aizawa muttered, barely above a whisper. "We have some business to take care of."
Gojo perked up a little. Business? That sounded like an opportunity for him to take the spotlight.
"We need to choose a class representative," Aizawa said dryly, looking as if he couldn't care less about the outcome. "It's a tradition. Someone to represent you in official matters and lead the class when needed."
Immediately, the room filled with excited whispers. Class representative? That sounded like a big deal. Some students already looked eager, their hands halfway raised.
"I nominate myself!" Aiko said confidently, standing up from her desk. "I'm organized, reliable, and I'm ready to lead this class to victory."
"Of course you would," Keiko said under her breath, though she was clearly amused.
Others began talking amongst themselves, considering their options. Daichi Hayashi suggested Keiko, given her level-headedness, while Haru Suzuki remained quiet, content to let the others figure it out. No one mentioned Gojo, though, which suited him just fine.
Gojo was slouched in his chair, arms crossed, pretending to be asleep behind his blindfold. "Yeah, yeah, you guys can have this one. I'm just here to look good."
Tamaki nudged him. "You could at least, uh, try to pretend like you care."
"Eh, it's not really my scene," Gojo replied, shrugging. "I'd make a terrible leader, what with my overwhelming charm and good looks distracting everyone."
As the debate continued, someone raised their hand from the back—an unexpected choice: Hikaru Ito. He had mostly kept to himself since the start of the year, quiet and diligent. His quirk, Lightwave, allowed him to manipulate light energy for defensive shields and support roles, making him a reliable team player but not exactly a flashy contender for leadership.
"I think Keiko or Aiko would be great leaders," Hikaru said calmly. "But maybe we should look for someone who isn't so obvious."
The class quieted down at this, intrigued by his suggestion. Hikaru continued. "If we pick someone predictable, then everyone else will expect it. Maybe we should choose someone who can surprise people. Someone who can handle pressure without getting carried away."
Gojo raised an eyebrow beneath his blindfold. This was getting interesting.
Aiko looked skeptical. "And who exactly would that be, Hikaru?"
Hikaru scratched his head, clearly thinking hard. "Well… What about someone like… Gojo?"
The entire class turned toward Gojo, who had gone from relaxed to slightly taken aback. The idea was so out of left field that even Gojo hadn't seen it coming.
"Gojo?" Aiko said, incredulous. "He barely shows up on time! And have you heard him talk? He's not exactly the model student."
Keiko crossed her arms. "Besides, he's arrogant, unpredictable, and, let's be honest, a little bit of a show-off."
Gojo, however, was no longer leaning back in his chair. He tilted his head toward Hikaru, intrigued by his reasoning.
"Why me?" Gojo asked, not in his usual cocky tone but with genuine curiosity.
Hikaru didn't falter. "Because you're unpredictable. You've got talent, but more importantly, you don't panic under pressure. And whether you act like it or not, people watch you, Gojo. You stand out."
Gojo couldn't help but smirk at that. "I do like to stand out."
Tamaki, sitting next to him, whispered nervously, "You, uh, sure you want to do this? You're already… kinda overwhelming."
Gojo shrugged. "Why not? If I'm gonna be the strongest, might as well get used to leading." He turned to the class and, with his trademark smirk, added, "Besides, who better to represent you than the future Number One hero?"
The class groaned but couldn't entirely disagree. Gojo did have a way of commanding attention, and, like Hikaru said, he didn't crack under pressure.
Before anyone else could argue, Aizawa cut in. "If everyone's done making noise, it seems like there's enough support for Gojo to be class representative."
Aiko sat back, shaking her head in disbelief. "Well, I guess if we're going to crash and burn, we might as well go down in style."
Gojo leaned back again, basking in the attention. "Don't worry, I've got this. What could go wrong?"
As the day wore on, the announcement everyone had been waiting for finally came. Aizawa stood at the front of the room once more, this time more serious than before.
"Now that the representative issue is sorted," Aizawa began, "it's time for an important announcement. The U.A. Sports Festival is coming up."
The room fell silent. Even Gojo straightened up at this. The Sports Festival was a huge deal.
Aizawa continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The Sports Festival is your chance to make a name for yourselves. Heroes, agencies, and the media will be watching closely. You'll be competing against students from all the other years, not just your class, so expect serious competition."
Gojo's usual smirk returned. "Finally, a chance to show everyone what I can do."
Keiko shot him a look. "It's not just about showing off, Gojo. This is about proving you're ready to be a hero."
Aiko nodded, her expression more focused than usual. "Yeah, this is the real deal. We can't take it lightly."
Gojo shrugged, though inside, even he understood the gravity of the situation. The Sports Festival was more than just a competition; it was their chance to be noticed. To stand out. And for Gojo, that meant finally proving that his quirk, though fueled by something darker, could make him the strongest.
As the bell rang and the class began to file out, Gojo stood in the doorway, pausing for a moment as he stared at his hand. His quirk had yet to reveal its full potential, but if the Sports Festival was anything like he imagined, it would be the perfect opportunity to push himself further.
Because this time, all eyes would be on him—and Gojo wouldn't have it any other way.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sovereign_Doa
Sovereign_Doa I wanted to go and obscured and make it so that Gojo wasn’t the class representative but I realised it’s Gojo of course he’s gonna be the class of representative so I hope this new unique approach to making it him is or was entertaining. Thanks for reading.
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