I think he is just playing dumb on the whole "I love you" thing, since he basically knows but doesn't understand that he likes Hana PLUS he is way to focused on growing as a player for the time being.
@faniki I feel it will be something like "1st year ends, they're waiting for him to come back and he doesn't, and when they go visit him he will go 'Sorry, who are you?' " ouch