I don’t know how common this habit is, but there are some people in my life (yes, plural) who have a habit of leading the nearest person into random dancing. And I don’t mean in a party where that’s expected, but rather in everyday situations. It’s simply them being affectionate and, depending on the context, being playful, especially if the person they’ve randomly captured person doesn’t know how to dance (I’ve been a victim myself… I can’t dance. We laughed anyway).
Now… why am I giving this context? To share another silly friendship headcanon about Monoma. I mean, look at him. He’s a dramatic guy, deeply attached to his friends, clearly has issues with personal space (RIP Shinsou’s personal space during the Joint Training Arc), and has an incredible ability to not feel shy in acting that way in public… are you telling me that doesn't sound like something he’d do? Especially considering his interest in French! Ballroom dancing, hey!
So, Kendou is sitting on the kitchen counter of the class B dorms, feeling like she could have done better on an exam. No, Kendou, don't be like that! Come on, cheer up! And suddenly they're dancing, and she thinks it's really stupid, but she's laughing too. So hey, it all worked! It is true that Nirengeki entered the kitchen right after and looks scared at the thought of being next, but all's well that ends well.
The first time Monoma did something like that, though, Kendou didn't know what the hell he was doing, so she panicked and knocked him out. The next times, she was okay. At some point, before she even realized it, Kendou was the one diving Monoma in, rather than the other way around.
If there were a major event involving a formal dance, I can picture Monoma trying to give her lessons...and he did a great job of it, but Kendou would still have to recruit Yaomomo. Why? She realized that Monoma was all along teaching Kendou how to lead. She didn't realize it because leading him wasn't anything new, but unfortunately, Kendou got apprehensive about the possibility of being the only girl who knew only how to lead. So, Yaomomo. And now Kendou knows both roles. She'll probably lead Yaomomo, be led by Tetsu, and switch off with Monoma. Good for her, I guess?
You know those dances where you have to bring a partner? There’s no way you could convince me that Monoma isn't the type to decide it’s his life’s mission to ask literally every girl in the class for at least one dance. And for each girl, it’s a different kind of dance. With Shiozaki, it’s a slower dance, but Setsuna is totally up for something more energetic. He knows that, in theory, not everyone wants to dance (I can't imagine Kodai being up for it), but in his mind, it would be a sin to leave anyone out. So he extends the invitation anyway, gets turned down, and moves on to the next one to complete the mission.
At this point, his partner is Class B rather than a specific person. The guy came as Pony's partner, but he's dancing with everyone, including the boys. Bondo, standing 1.91m tall, is utterly baffled as to how on earth Monoma, with his 1.70m, thinks he’s going to lead him, but he’s too shy to bring up that detail.
I can picture Kuroiro getting jealous over Kinoko and stepping in to interfere, only for Monoma to be like "oh, don't worry!" and then pull Kuroiro too. Kuroiro is so confused because that definitely wasn't what he had in mind, but hey! At least Kinoko and Monoma aren't dancing anymore, I guess? And Tetsutetsu definitely seems like the type who would come across a scene like that and declare "my turn now!". In fact, Tetsu goes even further. He starts pulling Monoma out to dance himself, because a true bro supports his bros' hobbies, and Monoma is all for it.
Eventually, Monoma counts Bakugou and Shinsou as his only friends from Class 1-A, though neither of them is remotely aware of this dancing habit. Oh, the first time this happens with Bakugou, the guy is going to explode....literally. The times after that? He’ll explode then, too. Maybe fewer literal explosions, but he’ll definitely be thinking "fuck, we should’ve just kept hating each other; what a nightmare." Shinsou will likely go from silent despair to exasperated acceptance, throughout each dance. There’s simply nothing to be done....he’s surrounded by weirdos.
Monoma's team finally beat the team with Bakugou or Shinsou on it… Monoma immediately takes the lead, chanting an annoying "I won., class B won!". Even more likely if the test actually mixes students from different classes to form the teams and, therefore, in reality, none of the classes won. Uraraka in the background like "but...I am your teammate", and Awase, on the opposing team, looking absolutely exhausted.
The first time he does that with Bakugou or Shinsou while Ashido is nearby, though? Sorry, Monoma, there’s no escape. You’re the one who started dancing near the queen of dance. She’s dragging him along, and Monoma is all "nooo, not you" until he realizes she’s actually good at it. Like, really good! But he’ll still act like "damn, I’m being forced into this!" even though he clearly isn't.
And what if Kaminari catches the two of them doing that? Then again, Monoma, sorry, but that’s on you for trying to be a funny guy around the class A' s resident funny guys. And unfortunately for him, Ashido and Kaminari are going to take this as a friendship ritual. They’re friends now! It’s a "buy one Bakugou, get his friends free" package deal! Sorry, Monoma, your claims that this isn't true are invalid.
Kirishima, who holds an incredible grudge against Monoma, finally decides "wow, everyone else is trying to be nice with him! I should be manly and get over it" and proceeds to try using dance as a way to bridge the gap. Monoma is disturbed This guy used to glare at him whenever he turned his head toward Bakugou in the hallway, what the hell is this bizarre mating ritual? (Monoma lacks the self-awareness to realize that he is exactly like that too). At some point, Monoma thinks this is some kind of competitive thing — like an antagonistic dance, which only makes sense in his mind — while Kirishima is proudly telling Tetsu how he thinks they’ll be able to spend more time together now, because not only has Monoma made up with Bakugou, but now he's made up with Monoma too!
That said, I think Monoma is primarily the leader because he’s the one who usually drags people into it, but I imagine the people most likely to lead him are Tetsu, Kendou, Pony, Shishida, Setsuna, Ashido, Kirishima and Kaminari. With Kami/Kiri/Mina, it’s because they’re the ones who have to "force" him into it, but the others are purely based on vibes. In a few surprisingly rare moments, Bakugou too because he got tired of trying to protest and is now competitive, all full of intent on showing that he can lead better.
Also, at some point, Monoma will try to do this when Shinsou hasn't properly retrieved his capture weapon and they will end all tangled up in the ground. Shinsou, staring hopelessly at the sky, will probably think "this is my life now." He got into the Hero Course, but at what cost? The two of them will notice that, for agile heroes, they are taking quite a long time to get out of there, but no one will say anything.
[If anyone here notices a resemblance to certain sketches by Horikoshi, chapters from the main manga, Team-Up Missions, or the novels… it’s no coincidence.]
