Refreshing but why can't it be friendship

This is very refreshing and I love platonic bonds. Arita said "normally, people call it friendship" but friendship is different from what is happening between him and Takeda. Now, I doubt the author will take it towards the romantic route but romantic partners are friends and more, so I found that comment odd. I truly believe two people can live together and enjoy one another's company without romance or sex. There are people that live with their siblings as adults or just an adult and their paren or adult roommates that get along so it is odd that the characters want to make it clear they are not dating but this is something different/deeper than friendship. People do need to understand and normalize that romance and sex is not needed or desired by all and you can truly enjoy someone's company without it. This sounds basic but so many people are hung up on non-platonic relationships that they would find the characters in this story to be odd or lying about not dating.