I agree that it's annoying when guys in BL are all like "I'm not gay, I just like you" but in this story it's the most justified. Everyone in this is either openly homophobic or surrounded by violent homophobes. Iltak is also homophobic and even the backstory doesn't absolve him. Massive amounts of homophobia got us were we are now in the story... idk I find it kinda interesting in a fucked up way.
It pisses me off more when the "I like you but I'm still straight" happens in wholesome stories

Spoilering this cause im just on a pissy ass rant atm, and i gotta gripe.
This comic continues to feel like its aimed at homophobic fujoshis.
Reaaaally feels like a desperate retcon to make Iltak not a piece of shit in middle school. He wasnt a bigoted asshole, his friends made him do it i swear!
And we still doing the chicken shit, oh theyre not *really* gay (and any other type of queerness doesnt exist).
Im pretty annoyed with this arc. I mean, as I said, this comic has always felt like its for people who like gay fiction but are homophobic irl, but it was still kinda fun.
Iltak shouldve apologized immediately when i forget his name joined the class. Fucking pussy. Guy woulda probably still done all this fucked up evil shit, but at least then Iltak wouldnt have been sooooo friggen complicit.
And im so sick of this weak ass "theyre not really gay" shit in bl comics. Yeah, maybe theyre not gay, but they sure as fuck aint straight. Authors gotta stop being fucking cowards. Yeesh.
Imma support the evil gay guy- not cause i like him, cause hes kind of a rapist piece of shit. Im doin it wholly outta spite. Alright, butthurt rant over.