Imo he wasn't even "manipulative" until this point when he decided he wanted to make her his girlfriend.
Even now I see it more as dishonestly taking advantage of her situation to be close to her rather than full-fledged manipulation. Not that it's any better.. but still far more redeemable than most examples of manipulative people if he (hopefully) cuts the crap within the later chapters I have yet to read.
Imo he wasn't even "manipulative" until this point when he decided he wanted to make her his girlfriend.
Even now I see it more as dishonestly taking advantage of her situation to be close to her rather than full-fledged manipulation. Not that it's any better.. but still far more redeemable than most examples of manipulative people if he (hopefully) cuts the crap within the later chapters I have yet to read.
They were close before he caught feelings, and he's not really doing anything he wasn't doing before. Even though she thinks of him fondly, if he just came out and said he wants them to date she'd probably run away at this stage which would presumably end badly. IMO the worst you can say he's doing is enjoying their proximity more and flirting with her a bit