Regarding the Nozaki scrapping the idea after that long pause, I first read it as him being unable to progress with the story since he was in the position of the one confessing and therefore would have to acknowledge liking Sakura. He still can’t finish the statement “to me, you’re...” himself, so it was left unfinished.
Him being jealous is an interesting alternative though, and equally funny XD This manga never fails to get me to laugh, thank you so much translators for your work!
Also... P R O G R E S S