different anon, but personally i do think kevin was aware of jean's feelings for him. jean isn't subtle, to the extent that even riko noticed, and then jeremy noticed, all those years later. and kevin seems pretty perceptive to these things. he wasn't surprised by andreil, in tgr he already seems suspicious of jerejean, and he was aware that jean liked jeremy in the nest. and then there's him sharing articles about jeremy with jean as a 'warning'. with all of these, it would just be kind of weird if it turns out he really didn't know.
jean is pretty inconsistent about it though, in tsc he says he would've done anything for kevin and kevin used that against him. but then in tgr he calls kevin an oblivious fool.
You bring up some good points! It is true that Kevin isnât canonically an oblivious character. He recognized when a younger Jean thought Jeremy was cute based on Jeremyâs photo. He also recognized when Andrew/Neil was happening. And we do have Jeanâs inconsistent narration: did Kevin use the fact that Jean would do anything for him against Jean or was Kevin an oblivious fool? Or does Jean believe that Kevin used his affection against him without fully understanding the extent of Jeanâs affection?
Even Neil saw Jean having an immediate attraction to Renee. And like you said Jeremy recognized Jeanâs attraction to Kevin immediately, as well (as well as how terrified Jean then was of Jeremy noticing his attraction to Kevin). And, of course, Riko noticed that Jean was attracted to Kevin.
And, of course, Kevinâs own behavior: recognizing Jean/Jeremy, him sharing Jeremyâs article, even his comment about how itâs easier to be straight when playing Exy back in TFC.
I guess though, my main thought is if Kevin IS aware of Jeanâs previous crush on him (and the consequences of that crush) how does that change your reading of Kevinâs character? Like I mentioned before, Kevin not knowing of Jeanâs crush makes his behavior (having Jean pass notes for him and Thea, the betrayal that Jean mentions, telling everyone that Jean taught him French, some of his harsher comments to Jean like âhe doesnât know how to hurt meâ) accidentally callous. The words/actions of a foolish boy who doesnât know how heâs hurting Jean. Whereas, if Kevin DOES know about Jeanâs crush, doesnât that seem deliberately cruel? Having the boy who is crushing on you (and was assaulted b/c of his crush on you) pass secret love notes to your girlfriend? Or him trying to push Jean towards Renee/persuade him not to think of dating a boy. It makes it seem like heâs blatantly telling Jean: unlike you I like girls, and then rubbing his face in it. Not to say that Kevin is not capable of being deliberately mean (as many of the Foxes know this) but he also seems to value Jeanâs friendship - sending him gifts like post cards & magnets. It seems almost too cruel for Kevin to behave this way to someone he genuinely seemed to view as a friend in the Nest & who obviously cared for Kevin.
I would love to hear from more people about whether they think Kevin knows about Jeanâs previous crush on him & how that impacts their reading of Kevinâs character. Especially in regard to Kevin & Jeremyâs conversation about Grayson/Jeanâs past assaults in the Nest.