I'm all for Mineta bashing but there's been this what if that I've been toying with, and the realization of the character concept just blew my mind.
What if Mineta was actually a genius...
That's how he gets into the hero course since his quirk wouldn't help all that much against robots without some strategy behind it.
He stalls robots in precarious positions that takes out other robots. He uses chain reactions like Nezu and plans ahead for these, relies on them. That's what gets him enough points to be in 1a.
I like to think that you could twist his personality to fit this by him rationalizing if as situational awareness training. He's also giving them a newfound hatred and resolution to be against the type of person hes portraying. He highlights what other people share his thinking to look out for and prepares them through a trial by fire on how to not get taken advantage of and spot a scam.
I really want to see someone like Midoriya that's always observing catch one of the moments that his true self shines through after a moment of genius.
Possible snippet being set up like
Midoriya pov
Midoriy loves quirks and puzzles so he's always watching to pick up on the subtle things that others don't see or realize. Hes been wondering lately how exactly Mineta got into the hero course and if there's something else behind his quirk. That's probably the only reason he sees it. He almost misses it with all the people blocking the door and Bakugo yelling but he still catches it out of the corner of his eye. Minetas presence almost disappeared and he moved through the crowd of students. Not straight out to lunch like expected but weaving through them in an odd pattern. He doesn't seem to do much more than brush past them and they really wouldn't notice him unless they looked down but Bakugos making too much of a spectacle for that. He's confused by the odd pattern and even more confused when Mineta slips back into the classroom and draws attention to himself with a comment.
He understands as small pockets of chaos erupt from the people that got shoved by Bakugo storming out. Most presume it's indignation and pass by as well but he notices, even before they do, they are now stuck to other people or the walls and it chains like a game of worm eater to effect all of the antagonizing parties.
He numbly realizes that there are a series of Minetas sticky balls at waist height thats causing the petty revenge scheme for blocking the door. He's still piecing things together in mild shock when his eyes find Mineta. They lock eyes and Mineta lets a small smirk cross his face as he tilts his head and it barely brushes the wall hes walking past. He straightens his head but one of his hairballs detaches and has stuck to the surface without Mineta ever breaking eye contact or raising his hands.
No one's going to believe him even if he tries to explain. No one would believe that Mineta had the skill to slip through the crowd undetected whilst brushing his head against key people to cause a chain reaction later when they were pushed together. Especially since no one else had seen the balls and understood the chaos.
He would tuck this information away for later and use it to re evaluate his analysis later.
