Even with his vast and extensive experience with life's difficulties, Haruki couldn't pull it off. His "if I was a man" approach was haphazard if he wasn't willing to see it to the end. And no, I don't mean actually revealing his true gender since his circumstances don't permit it (for whatever reason). Instead he should have continued by asking Yuriko that if it wasn't a maid but a (male) butler, would Yuriko still hug the employee. Because, as an employee, he simply feels uncomfortable with it, regardless of his gender. Too bad even his remarkable experience with life's difficulties didn't allow him to finish using the method. I guess it was hopeless if even experience with life's difficulties doesn't make one capable of it.