I'm gonna be real:

I don't think Nol really has a crush on Shin-ae, it's gonna take him a few more years, for now Shin-ae is someone who really understands and cares for him. Nol is a generally affectionate person so I'm not sure where he crosses romantic/crush territory. He just likes attention and affection. There's also Alyssa, so I'd like to believe that if he had feelings for someone else he'd immediately break up w/her. Also he's a currently a hard-core Shiter shipper, so I don't think he'd try and be a bad friend either. From Nol's viewpoint, I perceive it as completely platonic...for now?

Shin-ae is on a little different boat....

Even from the beginning, she thought of Nol like this:

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Shin-ae's Shoujo Hero

She made several comments about his appearance/scent:

"What smells nice?"

"He smells good!"

"You look handsome to me"

"You're really handsome"

"You look good"

"You smell clean"

Of course she sees Nol as a friend but you cannot deny the tiny crack to perfectly "platonic" friendship.

Ep 117 & 118

I think this episode was the biggest indicator of Shin-ae's romantic interest in Nol

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Shin-ae don't yell \"Hell nah\" in-front of elders Okay we get it Shin-ae, Nol is your friend

Nol opened up quite a bit to Shin-ae in this ep, and if you read the episode in Nol POV it's incredibly sad because it seems like Nol is losing hope for a better life, his life will continue being miserable. That's a really dark feeling.

Shin-ae decides to comfort him by holding his hands

She crawled her hands into his

Unlike Dieter or Kousuke holding her hand lightly on top to comfort her, Shin-ae tried to comfort Nol w/ her palms and intertwining her fingers w/ his. I don't think Shin-ae has ever done that before so kudos to her courage.

But at the same time when she held Nol's hand she seemed very shy ( very unlike usual Shin-ae )

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Also tiny blush

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And then when Nol decided to share his music with her

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She crossed the entire pacific ocean to be close

Nol is calmly sitting, while Shin-ae has leaned in to the point her entire body is on the table ( which is unnecessary )

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I mean staring

She just ended up staring at Nol, also do mind Nol is like 2 inches away from her face so she must've been really entranced. Also blushies.

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feelin shy again

She's so close to the point it looks like it's in his arms. Also she's feelin shy again but she's not moving away from his face even tho Nol asked "is there something on my face".

It's 2AM and she can't stop thinking about thy Nol

Shin-ae recreating the moment when she touched Nol's hands

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https://preview.redd.it/ffsho89tx2p61.png?width=802&format=png&auto=webp&s=6a64957fe6015bd7758f81a8e2462d57f3e5c7e9

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https://preview.redd.it/km1nyqc2y2p61.png?width=822&format=png&auto=webp&s=fdc6429b6cb5ced12581f51cd0208c331ceefab5

Shin-ae seems to feel the lingering feelings of Nol's hands on hers. Most platonic hand-holding isn't too deep but for Shin-ae it seems really, really important

At this point, I think Shin-ae's just trying not to acknowledge of the whole idea of her smol crush on Nol, because well he's the friend of Dieter & bf of Alyssa. That doesn't remove the fact that she's silently falling for him.

Nol as of now, I'm not sure because I think he's too busy thinking about his primary problems.

I know Nol has emphasized valuing his "platonic" friendship w/ Shin-ae but I'm not too sure if Shin-ae does anymore....Also Dieter? what's gonna happen to him?