So you're introducing a new major character as a minor antagonist. You want there to be some mystery around this character, because he ties into the central story conflict; but you don't necessarily want viewers to be too suspicious of him, because while he might take an antagonistic role, he's not actually an adversary.

It would be a waste of the viewers' time and energy to worry too much about him being a bad guy, and it might misdirect them from the actual story clues.

Unfortunately, due to reasons, this character starts off intensely hostile and unpleasant!

How do you most efficiently communicate to the viewers that he's being hostile because of an attitude problem, rather than being a bad guy? And how do you do that while preserving the ongoing mystery, and keeping in mind that you're writing primarily for an audience of young children?

The answer Den-O comes up with is to attach Deneb to him.

give him his mom

A character who is allied with this new antagonist and deeply devoted to him, but also so scrupulously honest that he actually warns an enemy that what appears to be a second face on his chest is just for decoration.

Like there is no point to doing that. It made no difference in the battle. Just, it would have been bad to deceive him!!

HE NEEDS HIS MOM

And just like that you know that whatever sketchy shit this new asshole is up to, it can't actually be anything nefarious, because this sweet monster mom attached to him would never.

Shiitake candy

anyway yes Deneb is the best single mother and I love him so so so much.

I'm so happy that his figuarts comes with the Deneb Candy

simply just the best.

Odebu ❤️

he's just. so good. and fills his narrative role so effectively.

to instantly mitigate audience suspicion of a hostile new character, just add Deneb

he's not here to hurt anyone he just wants to dote on Yuuto and help him make friends

Deneb is simply too soft, reputation ruiningly sweet, now we know Yuuto is a goober

still love that bit in the movie where they wind up in the Edo period and are trying to find their footing and then discover that Deneb is already here and has already made friends with all the local housewives