Yup the tags (yaoi, yaoiofficial, cute couple, lgbt, gay) does make a lot of people to assume this will lead to a more intimate relationship (which is why some were accusing the author of queerbaiting back then), but it seems like they want to let it stay SFW and toned down. In their old Q&A on instagram they mentioned what I said above your comment (platonic romance, no kissing or anything intimate, but there will be romantic feelings). I guess it’ll just stay sort of like a wholesome romantic relationship instead of an intimate one. Unless author changed their mind midway while making this since it was an old Q&A years ago and a lot of people are liking the idea of them together as lovers ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭ and author vaguely answered “yeah” to that one question asking if the author is just denial and they’ll eventually end up together, trusting the process xD
The closest kiss they had is the kiss on the cheeks that the author posted, saying it’s the official first kiss. So there is that romance, just not necessarily an intimate one.
NOT YALL TRYING TO FIGURE THE GUYS GENDER AND IF THIS IS A LOVE STORY. YES YES IT IS ITS A SLOWBURN AND YES THE GUY IS A MAN AND YES HE JUST TURNED 18