>>281682326
He's clearly not, anon. The entire dynamic of their relationship is him feeling uncomfortable getting closer because of his past, but eventually making an effort to help her out while continually doing the Motoyama thing where he is overly self conscious in trying not to misinterpret his female friend's behavior and become a beta orbiter.
From the perspective of the class, he was a completely normal dude until suddenly he and Kusunoki started being around each other more. Remember, for most people in universe, they're completely normal high schoolers and not the walking baggage they actually are.