but i guess masaki somehow also knew that rion feels the same way? or maybe not. it's either he isn't sure if rion really feels the same way since he keep on saying that rion will never be his or he knew that rion feels the same way but he's afraid to take a step forward because he doesn't want to end things with rion one day.
Nah Masaki definitely didn't know Rion had feelings for him. Because if that was the case I feel like he would have made a move at least. For him it was just a one sided love and he didn't want to confess his feelings to Rion because he didn't want to jeopardize what they had I guess and he's always felt like he could never have Rion.
And honestly I didn't like this Rion character, I'm sorry. Like you said, he is manipulative.
First chapter in, I realized I've read this before and I still don't like this shitty Rion character lol. And their first sexual encounter made things worse
rion is so manipulative. he knew masaki's feeling all along plus his feeling the same way and yet he still chose to watch masaki suffer because of his fucking sense of superiority. it's good tho that he knew every wrong that he had done up until now. i bet things between them won't have any progress if masaki didn't decided to get away from him.