I also think that the teshuva is very straightforward. The boy wanted to go out with a certain girl and perhaps was already going out with her as the introduction states that his rabbonim had tried to speak to him about it. The boy claimed that they were not over on negiah or yichud but never claimed that it was merely platonic (“reut” implies a closer relationship). “Chibba” means affection. This is, in fact, clear from the Shach in YD 157:10, where he talks about “negia derech chibba” (he specifically brings the case in the Gemara of a man who fell in love with an eshet ish) and 159:20, where he uses the term “derech chibba vetaavat biah” (as you implied, the Shach brings that there is a machloket Rishonim regarding whether this is d’Oraita or derabbannan). Rav Moshe also stated explicitly that if the boy wanted a platonic friendship he would seek out other boys (although it is true that many other rabbanim have stated that even if it does start as a platonic friendship it will perforce lead to something more, especially among teenagers). He then went on to say that even if they are not now over on yichud or negiah one thing will lead to another (thus according to the opinion that it is derabbana it is a fence around the Tora).
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