I switched from crush to oshi, because at this point of the relationship (Mitsuki's gender is known), "crush" was adding a romantic nuance which isn't there yet (at least in Aya's conscious mind).
Oshi is what Japanese people call a celebrity they have a preference for. In an idol group for example. Their "fave". Someone they idolize, but it doesn't have necessarily, or even that often, a romantic slant.
The thing is, Narita also called Mitsuki his "oshi" and Aya, in a previous chapter, gets in competition with him about who Mitsuki was the oshi of first. Then, I had to translate oshi in 3 different ways across that chapter and it's become untenable, because she might switch to a more romantic word later and their relationship is not textually romantic yet, as "crush" would imply.
Absolutely adore this little conscious tidbit on your part when it comes to translating. Thanks for really caring about how words will affect the story being conveyed. This lowkey made me miss doing translation studies even if I didn't focus on that area of theory (obviously I was in queer studies lmao).
Also, to add: awwwww, they're communicating. idk why i love Aya's crying face XD but man, it's so satisfying to see her blatant honesty and Mitsuke's (finally) honest response in turn. It's short, and maybe there's a world where this has a novelization that dives into the misunderstanding and apology, but I do love the latest chapter (the uncle wins it for me too lmao,, hard same, sir :))) )