The author knows her stuff, he can't fathom her liking him seriously at all.
While she just wants to know more about him but if she gets too close (in any way) he'll bolt.
It's a really fun build up,
The worst part about him doing the chuuni face hide thing for me is that I used to do that.
Because I thought Heero Yuy was the coolest dude ever and he does it in the intro to gundam wing.