TS, you are very, very deep into your crush. That's what I can tell. This should be the 2nd time you are asking the similar question.

Those friends of yours, if they are really your friends, should cease to flame the thing your crush refuses to answer. Pushing in that direction will not give any outcome. Since you have exposure to get close to him, which is already favoring you, why not create an opening for him to be alone with you? This is the best strategy: stop looking for the definite answer of yes/no. Those who look for a definite answer of yes/no are just idiots. Even though he is not into you now, will he not be into you as time passes? You just need the favorable environment to let things happen. The correct environment to let things build up.

If you don't even have a favorable environment, your chance = 0.

If you cannot even play your chess move & want to know the ending (like watching the drama/movie fast forward till the end), then straight away confront him and ask face to face; you will get your answer of yes/no immediately. But very likely I'll say you will hit the wall because there are so many resistant inside his head, and he is still evaluating it one by one as the time passes. You are not giving him time to assess the things that he can't assess at the present moment.

Denying is a wrong move. Just don't deny or admit on your end—doing that again, eventually there will be a barrier built up in his mind, which will cannot be removed permanently. Do not let him lock this elimination inside his brain; once it is locked, it is over. If that happens, congratulations on being friendzoned by your crush.

A fraction of memory of mine from 25 years ago; it took 2 years for such evaluation to complete. Also, the sample stated is of the minority; do not take it as an absolute reference.