@cgr Perhaps not in so many words, but back in 61 Kitarahra suggested to Nishida that he should just go out with Yoshii (and then he made some vague excuses and asked Kitahara out for the hell of it just to be turned down.) I feel like someone has made the suggestion to Yoshii as well in the past, but i can't remember when.
And about the 33% progress... well, they're art college kids; eventually they either graduate, drop out or their parents cut them off. That's progress, right?