Complex sentence: They decide somewhat hesitantly not to pursue these feelings, to save potentially harming their close friendship-however now that they have both acknowledged them it seems likely that the issue will be addressed at some point in the characters' futures.
Split into simpler sentences: They decide somewhat hesitantly not to pursue these feelings, to save potentially harming their close friendship. However, now that they have both acknowledged them, it seems likely that the issue will be addressed at some point in the characters' futures.