Is this a flashback or are they resetting the series? The dude already said that he's conscious of her and that he looks at her that way, but since author already confirmed that they'll be a couple in the last chapter then I guess he can play around all he wants.
Edit: Nevermind, I ignored the...
The change in volume cover fooled me and made forget I had this in "Dropped" but now even the Great Unclean One Terasu MC chimed in with his poison, I'll not make this mistake again and just unfollow.