Someone should tell editors and writers that establishing a couple doesn't mean the end of the series, you can have them hook up early on.
This kind of cockblocking is just plain fucking awful, but maybe it's cultural dissonance? Maybe 11s think it's funny or alright?
Would it rly be that hard to handle a love relationship in a manga like that, i get that author still made room for the childhood friend to have a chance but i hate baiting like that, just don't do anything at all if u want to finish the chapter with such stupidity.