So uh, for anyone curious, I literally just found out that the author of the manga is married to the real-life Teishotoku-P (yes, it's an actual youtube channel run by the author of this manga and her husband). Her husband is also the inspiration for Waseda.
According to the author, they've been married for two years.
Much like Ota, the author was once an aspiring mangaka; and she made it and became successful. She also married her crush (Teishotoku-P).
Anyway, basically what this all means, is that Ota is the author's self-insert. And if Ota is the author's self-insert and Waseda is based on her irl husband, and also taking Ota's feelings for Waseda into account, then Ota x Waseda is pretty much confirmed canon before actually being canon. Mind blown.