Was pretty clear that was the case given that she kept talking to him instead of telling him to fuck off, like she would with others, given how blunt she is presented as being.
I do like that the heroine doesnt rejects him, she just had 0 cha.
She never stone walls him, rebutes or rejects him, she only has a problem returning the affection in a kind that can be recognized as such.
And the protag burns with the conviction of affection, he doesnt back down, doesnt give up and even if he Is daunted he remains commited to being on her good side.