>>716020267https://youtu.be/42PV9lyjWKw?si=hFShPOYPmMsA0cRU&t=350
I don't know if you can regard Mario vs DK as 'canon' anymore, but they give off actual lovers vibes in this.
I don't think Nintendo will push it though. Claiming Mario and Pauline being a thing and having a 13 year old daughter re-contextualizes a lot of Mario's adventures and his kisses from Peach.
Regardless of how you frame is, kissing a married man with kids on the cheek as thanks with the man often blushing is weird.
I don't think they want an overarching Mario plot, Pauline will be adult out of nowhere again and probably won't ever be brought back as a teen unless Bananza gets a direct sequel.