hey now Machihashi. you dont get to say that you are aware youre dense about others advances. that just sounds like a contradiction
Well, he is as aware as one can be for their first try at this kind of thing. Most likely kindergarten or primary school level, but that is a great leap when compared to his older denseness. Which was easier to deny because it was nothing more than new thoughts of horniness masquerading as loving or crushing on someone.
Funnier thing is it is harder to differentiate this horniness from the love/crush older you are; especially if you lack introspection that is hard to find for that age group thanks to the hormone cocktail that is puberty. If he stays still, he is the candidate #1 for a classic BSS storyline. That might give him the edge to push for uncharted seas of intimate relationships; or be the cucked party of an unexpected love story a la
I Was Reincarnated as the Scumbag from a Netorare Manga, But the Heroine Is Coming On to Me , though the genres shield us from that bad ending for our MC.
Sorry for rambling. TL;DR: He is a late bloomer which is predisposed to take action thanks to outer forces realizing his feelings towards the FMC isn't just fueled by horniness of puberty.