@ChowDeuxr Even so, if you have a wild imagination, the MC and the so-called protagonist had a certain level of connection that could have been seen as romantic in a weird sense. Their meeting down to how the MC always tried to interact with protagonist even to how the protagonist labeled him a friend or companion in the long run when the guy disregards everyone else. If it was a BL, it would be one of those red Flag top who later falls for the bottom trope
Novel lover