Regressing to "passive fan yearning for his idol on a distant pedestal" from "active suitor seeking to stand as equals with a girl" is kinda lame, NGL. It's the opposite of the character growth we would hope from the typically weak male lead in a romcom.
What is the opposite of character growth? Character degeneration? I like that he's kinda perceptive, but the loss of his confidence is crashing his stocks in my book.