Something about Upperclassman Kiyotaka intrigues me. I can definitely see him going about his day being completely unaware that he is trending in the hearts of other classmates. Do you have any ideas on how others might show their interest in him?
Although it defeats the purpose a little bit I personally like the idea Taka is completely oblivious to the people around him that have an interest in him and is interested in the person who doesn't really have strongly feelings for him yet (Makoto).
(This is in response to this post.)
That is perfect!!
First of all, I forgot to mention Teruteru in the previous, but Teruteru's enjoyment of being scolded would definitely also place him on the list of people who have a crush on Taka.
I picture Kokichi and Angie being weirdly symbiotic about their crush, because Kokichi will seek attention by breaking rules and Angie will seek attention by being a tattletale. So, Kokichi runs past Angie doing something he has no business doing, she cheerfully goes and tattles to Taka, and they both get Taka's attention!
And Taka having a crush on Makoto the whole time is also perfect! Makoto started off their first year with a crush on Sayaka, and though that relationship has shaped up to be platonic, it still means Taka knows how unsubtle Makoto can be when he's pining for someone, and he hasn't seen any of that behavior toward himself. So, Makoto must not feel the same way.
One afternoon, they're both in Taka's dorm room, studying together, and Makoto brings up weekend plans. Taka mentions some errand he meant to run, and Makoto offers to go with him, and Taka is excited by the prospect, and they're looking into each other's eyes, just generally kind of having a moment (though Makoto still reads the moment they're having as platonic)...
And then Angie knocks on the door to let Taka know that Kokichi just entered the laundry room with a huge tub of glue and he should probably look into that. 😜 And Taka hurries off to go check.
Also, both Angie and Kokichi can tell that Taka has a crush on Makoto. Angie acts on this by befriending Makoto (and she feels like she has no ulterior motive outside of 'If Taka-senpai likes him, he must be super cool!', but subconsciously she might have realized that if she becomes his friend and then tells him, as a friend, that she likes Taka, then he won't pursue that as a romantic option), and Kokichi acts on this by picking on Makoto (which he knows full well will not result in Taka liking him).
(While Angie and Kokichi have their symbiotic crushes on Taka, Kokichi and Shuichi have their deeply antithetical crushes on Taka and Makoto, where Kokichi is being a menace but ultimately his antics bring them closer, and Shuichi is being really submissive and nice but also getting between them.)