Denji is an incredible protagonist for one simple reason:
He is SO respectful.
He's a horny touch starved teenage boy. He's a pervert, he thinks about sex and girls all the time. His entire goal in life at one point was to touch some boobs.
And yet never, EVER, has Denji violated anyone's consent. Ever.
He's never peeped on anyone. Never groped anyone against their will. Never took pictures or even really gawked at anyone. He's had sexual thoughts about almost every woman he's met, sure, but he never acted on it without some form of consent.
The most he's done is make deals with various girls about doing various things with them ... Thing is, it was usually offered to him BY the girls.
Power offered him to let him touch her chest if he helped - and when he did, Denji did not even bring it up again until she did. He didn't demand she uphold her side of the deal nor even really mentioned it - she could've just let it pass and he wouldn't say a word.
Himeno offered to kiss him if they made it out of the hotel. Again, Denji didn't bring it up until she did, though he was considerably enthusiastic about it.
Makima offered him 'anything', and Denji decided to ask for sex - however he checked and double checked if that would, in fact, be okay to ask. (And he didn't even end up asking for it).
He's a genuinely believeable teenage boy, he's gonna be horny, he's gonna think about sex, but he's also a NICE teenage boy, and he has no desire to make anyone uncomfortable.
And the author doesn't see sexual assault as a hahah funny !!!
Denji is proof that you can write a likable pervert character.
All you have to do is make them respectful.
