I think gyaru MC deserves Idiot Couple
status.
Let's wait for them to get together before we give them that one. For now, let Aya have and hold her Useless Lesbian
card.
She was explicitly told to her face "let's be friends" by Mitsuki, who she knew was fully aware of her romantic feelings.
You’re wording it as if Mitsuki was aware that Aya had feelings for HER and not the “HIM” Aya thought she was.
Mitsuki offered friendship because at the time, Aya was avoiding her. (Also, she said “Will you be my friend” not “let’s be friends”)
She's been dropping hints and being suggestive, signaling possibility, but the ball is fully in Mitsuki's court when it comes to making the first move thanks to that semi-rejection.
Aya hasn’t been “dropping hints” because when folks “drop hints,” they’re intentionally trying to show the other person that they have feelings.
Aya hasn’t been doing that. Aya is just easy to read and her feelings for Mitsuki is obvious (from a readers POV).
Not only that, but from Mitsuki’s POV, I bet she assumed that Aya stopped having feelings for her once she found out she was a girl.
“Aya only has feeling for Onii-chan.” Is probably the thought process.
I don’t think it even counts as a rejection, let alone a “semi-rejection” because Mitsuki asked “Will you be my friend?” because she wanted to get closer to Aya.
Mitsuki most likely assumed Aya is straight (especially with how Aya avoided her after finding out she was a girl) so Aya’s feelings for “her” weren’t taken into consideration when she asked about being friends.
That term is generally one I really don't like and part of that is people use it to describe characters who aren't in any way actually failing themselves like Aya. Who is that "useless lesbian" useless to? Is she useless at pursuing her own interests, or is she just useless to satisfy your expectations and impatience as the audience.
“Useless lesbians” are “useless” when it comes to their feelings, it’s not meant to be a serious thing at all.