>>54106430>why they decided to have this random route kid into a main character at the start.Super late, but I imagine one reason Marvin exists with such a "prominent" role in the SwSh arc is in response to the treatment of Hau and the Primarina line, where they were barely present because SMUSUM was so rushed for time and focused solely on the game story at a breakneck pace.
Kusaka and Yamamoto probably got internal feedback about how the Primarina line basically received subpar representation and were asked to give Inteleon more paneltime.
With Hop being given a role where he wouldn't have consistent paneltime, as he's with Bede and Marnie, but would still be present and relevant for the story, I think Marvin exists just to follow the actual protags, be dumped with exposition when the pacing demanded it, and allow the Inteleon line and Dracovish to be showcased.
In Volume 7, I think Marvin even gives Hop the Inteleon anyways. However, this is mostly conjecture since Yamamoto really only discusses references and inspiration behind certain panels or characters, and Kusaka has been radio silent since 2017.
