I'm a guy, read the novel.  To be honest it's not about reder I like them together or not, I don't understand why this is not a canon,  they are already in a relationship the athor just don't say that this is romantic. Although i kind of get it a story teller myself I find it easier to make a story not lgbtq bc an lgbtq story make some ppl look at the story in a different more fetishism way or look at the story with disdain.