Very strange how I am still seeing a lot of people debating even now with the anime fully adapting chapter 431 if they believe the ending scene was romantically coded or not.
1) Narratively speaking it wouldn’t make sense for Izuocha to say they “want to talk more” and have the outcome only result into their friendship since that aspect of their relationship is already canon. They deeply care, love, and respect each other as part of their foundation. To have a scene only telling us what we do know about there relationship would make no sense story wise.
2) Toga’s symbolism and how she is meant to help Ochaco move forward and send the message that it’s okay to prioritize your own wants and needs and that she no longer should blame herself for her passing. Toga’s last scene where she pushes Ochaco forward further pushes towards the message that Ochaco should be open and enjoying the life that she has without needing to turn back. Love has been a big factor to both her and Ochaco’s arcs.
3) The car scene with Bakugo and Kirishima where Bakugo specially tells Izuku that “if you say everyone is special then no one truly is special” and how this scene was meant to be a foreshadowing of what was to come later in that same chapter ties the romantic subplot to its conclusion by having Izuku confront Ochaco and fully realize how special his connection with Ochaco was hence why her reaction to his speech was showing her to stunned to speak (this type of reaction again would not make sense if the end conclusion is for the audience to pick up the “we’re just friends” talking point).
4) During Izuku’s speech he talks about how all his bonds are precious to him but emphasizes that despite appreciating all the connections he has he realizes that the bond he had with Ochaco was truly special (as a continuation to what Bakugo told him earlier) and that he wants more with her. The emphasis of more helping the viewer understand that what Izuku means is that he wants to be around her more. That she has become his special person as she has had similar feelings for him with the final sense telling us that the feelings they harbored were mutual. Izuku distinguishes his platonic bonds with the romantic bonds and makes that indirect confession that he does have feelings for her.