@Anaddict in the previous chapters it's been explained that he carries or "stole" a poison that can permanently kill the monsters/yokai as when the die usually they revive that's why they want to eat him so they can consume the poison and die
But it seems that in this chapter they explored that...
@rh75 some people use the term dating as a feeler to gauge how they feel about each other
That's why he said "more than friends and less than lovers" he pretty much refused to be her lover until he sorts out his own feelings which is pretty much mature given today's current MC's who get awkward...