I get your point and you are right to believe what you wrote. It's possible you never showed interest and that threw him off. But for me, whether he's shy or has no effort is a turn-off. I don't want to be in a relationship where I do have to be the muscle for both of us.

I do believe men shouldn't be left to do the asking all the time. Women can do the asking too if you are bold. Society has ingrained a sense of entitlement in men, so they feel obnoxious or too important when a woman verbally asks them out.

So if you like a guy and you don't want him getting the wrong impression about you, show him you are interested and allow him to do the asking. If a guy isn't bold enough to express himself, that puts you in a position to be the muscle and such a relationship doesn't usually do well.