There are a few ways to achieve greatness in anime. Some are destined for success thanks to their natural, inborn talent. Others crawl their way to the top with hard, back-breaking work. However, something many fans don't consider is those who stumble to the top by accident.
As a joke, many anime characters will find themselves reaching levels of success that they hardly try for or even want. They'll end up the center of adoration by everyone around them and won't really know how to tell anyone that they're not all they're cracked up to be. Oftentimes, the audience will get in on this joke and give these otherwise-mediocre characters much more praise than they'll ever truly deserve.
Mr. Satan, the Martial Arts Champion of the World
Mr. Satan is arguably the one who popularized this trope. Despite being recognized as a world champion of martial arts in Dragon Ball Z, he's still nowhere near the level of the Z Fighters and the planet-destroying menaces they fight on a regular basis. However, since the Z Fighters aren't well-known to the general public, they count on Mr. Satan to save the world.
As scummy as it is to take credit for someone else's achievements, it becomes necessary for a number of reasons. In Mr. Satan's case, he doesn't want to let down his adoring fans and daughter by letting them know the truth; that, and he could never handle the shame. Besides that, the Z Fighters actually want him to have his publicity so that they can maintain their privacy. This all worked out especially well when Mr. Satan rallied every person on Earth to share their energy to beat Majin Buu.
Leorio Paradinight, the Boar
Leorio had a ridiculous amount of success during Hunter x Hunter's "Hunter Election" arc. At the time, the Hunter Association was looking for a new chairman to replace the late Netero. Most were expecting one of the Zodiacs to take the position. However, when Leorio punched out Ging, one of the less popular Zodiacs, his own popularity soared.
Despite never intending to become chairman, he was one of the top two candidates in the Election. At the time, all he really wanted was a way to help the hospitalized Gon, and he said just as much. He openly stated that if he was elected, he had no real plans; instead, he would pool the Association's resources to find a way to help Gon. Half the Association still voted for him. It wasn't until he and Gon voted for the other top candidate that the charade ended. Leorio was later made a Zodiac.
Buggy the Genius Jester
Buggy the Clown is one of Straw Hat Luffy's oldest enemies. However, while Luffy has been getting stronger, Buggy has shown few signs that he's any more threatening than he was at the start of the series. If they ever fought again, it wouldn't be a contest.
Despite Buggy's lack of strength, he's garnered a notorious reputation. First, he escaped Impel Down and freed several prisoners, who became enamored with him. He later led those same prisoners into battle in the war at Marineford. On top of that, he seemingly interacted casually with two of the Four Emperors. His newfound notoriety earned not only respect from his followers but also the title of Warlord and, eventually, Emperor.
Fans in on the joke reference further "clues" of Buggy's greatness. They'll mention how he dodged attacks from Pirate Warlords and even Admirals. They also suggest his real name is Buggy D Clown.
Dark Lord Sekke Bronzazza
Like Buggy, Black Clover's Sekke hasn't changed much since he was introduced at the start of the series. Despite this, he manages to stay relevant with his frequent appearances. He was present for fights against the likes of Vetto, the elves, and even Lucifero.
The anime further feeds into this joke character's "relevance." King Augustus, who was apparently protected from the elves by an unwitting Sekke, called for the boy to be a First Class Senior Magic Knight. The legitimately strong Magic Knights stared daggers at Sekke accordingly.
Fans of Black Clover like to joke about Sekke being much more powerful than he actually is. Some have suggested that he be called Dark Lord Sekke as if to suggest he's one of the few people in the series to be possessed by a powerful Devil. This is despite how regularly he gets overpowered, pushed around, and humiliated whenever he makes an appearance.
Komi Shoko, the Madonna of Her School
Komi from Komi Can't Communicate is one of the most adored students at her school. She does everything with a style and grace that's only matched by her beauty. Most people are afraid to talk to her because she has a powerful gaze and gives off a menacing aura. At least, that's how everybody sees her.
In truth, Komi is just a shy girl with a communication disorder. Even if somebody worked up the courage to talk to her, she couldn't talk back because of her anxiety. Her goal is to someday make 100 friends, not just admirers. In a way, she's looking to attain the popularity everybody thinks she has.
In real life, fans give Komi the same praise and adoration as her classmates. Knowing the truth about her communication disorder just makes her all the more endearing. It also helps that she has a meme-worthy face. To many, Komi is best girl.