Oh it's tough.
It's... maybe a best possible outcome, depending on how Shounen manages it, but it's one TOUGH blow to take in without going KO. I do feel it probably means she likes him as well, but that it has become "something" that cannot work right now, and that actually calling out his feelings would require her to refuse, but she doesn't want to. Something like that...
@CuJoJo Good lord that movie was great. That moment before the credits, punch in the gut, hard to breathe, then she shakes herself off and runs off to him, he blurts it all out, they cry, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn the feels, then post-credits, hope! You're right, it may end up like this for this story as well, there are similarities!