I'm sorry I'm answering this a week later😭😭😭 and I think while he aknowledges they're considerably close he doesn't say it and adresses it as a matter-of-factly, there are feelings he can't express but because of their good distance that went for quite some time there wasn't the need to admit them since he doesn't understand them that well and preferred to ignore it as he could for the timing, and he doesn't really realize how much those feelings stand out until anahita actually says she cares. a lot. and loves him, so even when they're in a relationship he doesn't say it that often...maybe rarely for a lot of factors and as they with their relationship he expresses them more, not verbaly necessarily, so despite anahita's shitton of insecurities and self depracation in ways that could be considered nearly dangerous at times he has that patience for mithra and is aware he isn't the best with words, she appreciates anything he does for more silly or strange that it can be and is never not happy to hear him say it when he says it louder than usual which is in part due to her knowing how he feels about them saying they've thought he doesn't love them and knowing he's trying at the same time because it's something he wouldn't normally do for others and it shows for the rest of the wizards :^)