Willy is the MVP of the NPCs in this game.
He comes back after a month on the sea, hears a new farmer moved to town, and sends them a letter so he can give them his old fishing rod and teach them to fish. Doesn't care about their age or sex. He's one of the most chill people in the valley. When ore starts running into the local waters, he gifts the farmer with a mining pan and shows them how to use it, too.
He post the most valuable request just to keep the art of fishing alive. He pays fairly for any fish or gear sold to his shop and credits the farmer when people buy those fish. He charges a fair price to ferry people all the way to Ginger Island, gives them fish jerkey, and sets rules to keep them and the local wildlife safe. He opens early after his ferrying service starts, will open his shop if it's raining on a day he'd normally be closed, and will even open for a bit on the mornings of fishing derby days, even though he's eager to partake in the derby.
He gives the farmer advice on what Elliot likes and dislikes, trying to help the two newest members of the community make friends. He befriends and helps Leo. He doesn't judge Linus. He sticks around after ferrying the farmer to Ginger Island, and will even brave the volcano and angry parrots to help them if they don't come back by a certain time.
Gus, Evelyn, and Clint are nice and helpful as well, giving some great blueprints once they see the farmer is ready, but Willy is the GOAT.