i love popstar gang, the dream team, the main four, whatever you want to call them, so fucking much man
like. they weren't MEANT to be a team. both in-universe and in meta context.
these characters were all created for different purposes entirely.
kirby is protagonist, obviously. dedede initially was a bowser expy that grew into friendly rival role but not necessarily protagonist material. bandana dee was a nobody that was just a throwaway opponent in a minigame in original super star. meta knight was meant to be enigmatic "dark counterpart" of kirby and nothing more.
but then, suddenly, shinya kumazaki comes and recontextualizes all of their interactions they had in previous games into them building up bonds. until it culminates in them becoming genuine friends.
dedede's slowburn warming up to kirby has a satisfying resolution. meta knight's brief team up in amazing mirror now is seen in entirely different light. bandana dee's encounter in revenge of the king hits different as well.
this wasn't planned. this wasn't intended. this feels kind of messy and maybe ill-fitted at the first glance. but for a series where main characters' design was literally unplanned placeholder and was kept in just because they really liked it... it only feels the most fitting.