I've been writing romance stories in english, but with Japanese settings, including what I can find about Japanese culture. I've been using an AI to check my work, and Google to figure out or recall elements I forgot about, but I ran into a snag with honorifics I thought I knew how to use. I thought "-kun" and "-chan" were equal in respect/affection, and that they were gendered equvalents: "-kun" for boys, "-chan" for girls. But then I find out "-kun" is used for both genders in the workplace to promote gender equality, and is somehow more respectful than "-chan", but less formal than "-san"? This threw me for a loop because now I can't figure out how to appropriately assign "equal" affection expression between men and women, and Google just makes my confusion *worse*. Especially if i'm trying to give the couple a close platonic relationship before finally expressing romantic interest.…