@Mandeer I kinda agree there, and yet I usually like side couples because I don't like when a side character is completely left out of the story. But it was kind of annoying in this case and I hope we're done with it.
IMO the problem is that it was timed TERRIBLY in this case. We got to the point where cherry boy confessed, we finally see some progress, and then author randomly decided to introduce a whole new character out of nowhere, to create a side couple and to leave the main couple in suspense. Couldn't he at least finish the first story before going to a whole new side story? Especially when he's introducing a new character for it, it really feels as if he was trying anything just to avoid making progress with the main story.