I didn't watch the first two parts, so this is from what I can tell from watching only the first epiosde. He has a soft spot for her, also because she is the only girl in their group and all the boys didn't want to play with her, except Ken, because he feel bad for her. Her father get mad and she got yelled at or maybe gets hit too, if she played with the boys and got herself hurts or dirty, so those boys told her no and go cooks, so she won't get yelled at by her father. Ken gives her picky-back because those boys say there is enough peoples, they only need 5, not 6. Little-Ken say he can make it works and only 5 can plays, so he carried her. The scene with them at the temples, Ken told her he want to be more than friends and old brother to her. So I guess he kind of like her, but those feeling is probably more of an affection instead of true love since he doesn't really know yet about true loves. :yes:
OK that's just my understand since I only watched 1 episode if someone can correct me, please do so.