Responses
I honestly feel like it's the other way around. Apart from saying it like 100 times, MC doesn't show any signs of being in love. What does he even love about ML? Everything ML does seems to annoy him to no end, and all we ever see MC doing is avoid ML.
At the same time we see the friend clearly worrying about MC, trying to spend time with him, teasing him, telling him about his problems, ... all things that show wanting to be close to the other person.
I don’t think the relationship they have is romantic. Like the MC clearly likes him, but I don’t think the bsf feels the exact same. He cherishes his friend a lot, but I don’t think it’s romantic love, they have no romantic chemistry. It’s a strong platonic bond that’s being confused with love.