I generally have trouble assigning much romance to the boy who had to ask Shirley about love and then immediately parsed it as the way he feels for his sister. Honestly, I don't think Lelouch's problem is as simple as asexuality. I think Lelouch just can't differentiate love and it's all the same to him, regardless of who it is for. And I really think his talk with Shirley during the China arc reveals this. So I'm not so sure romantic love has an actual register in Lelouch's mind. As for the scene with Kallen, he's a depressed boy who was clearly quoting lines. He sounded so atrocious. His scenes where he kisses Shirley, he's comforting her. His confession of his love for Euphie, more of this all-encompassing perspective toward love. C.C. is especially complicated in that she takes on an almost motherly role for him at times but he very clearly loves her as well.
Essentially, Lelouch loves all of his special people. I think the final event "picture drama" captures this well. Now, I think the creators have hinted heavily toward it being more likely for Lelouch to have eventually gravitated toward Shirley had he had the time to stop focusing on rebellion and mature a little. They love to focus on Shirley and Lelouch in side materials, particularly his final dream sequence. They also imply that what he and Suzaku have is a very strong and unique version of friendship/love/whatever that's almost impossible to define.
So yes, in conclusion, Lelouch doesn't classify love in his mind so romance hadn't had the time to come into the picture for him. Had he lived longer, it probably would have.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninetydegrees![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Essentially, Lelouch loves all of his special people. I think the final event "picture drama" captures this well. Now, I think the creators have hinted heavily toward it being more likely for Lelouch to have eventually gravitated toward Shirley had he had the time to stop focusing on rebellion and mature a little. They love to focus on Shirley and Lelouch in side materials, particularly his final dream sequence. They also imply that what he and Suzaku have is a very strong and unique version of friendship/love/whatever that's almost impossible to define.
So yes, in conclusion, Lelouch doesn't classify love in his mind so romance hadn't had the time to come into the picture for him. Had he lived longer, it probably would have.