@mangolover I think his doing it in a mature way though. As for my opinion, I don't find him unlikeable since he do have the right "status" that they're been engage. Still I prefer him to be with Kano, since it felt like the "Like" that he felt for her (MC) are like for siblings.
I thought the story was already quite interesting with the main couple’s different personalities and status. Did they really need to introduce a rival so soon... 😑
I don't think childhood friend-kun was implying that heroine-chan doesn't have a choice in the matter. She literally just told him that Atsumori's parents don't approve of her, and in Japan that seems to actually mean something, especially among the upper-class. I understood his comment more as him implying that Astumori's family has a big say in it as well, and that he'll still be there for her if/when Astumori can't convince his family to accept her.