Except your original comment says that she doesn't want to focus on the romance side of their relationship, which insinuates that there is an actual romantic side of their relationship. You also say we dont know yet, as if you think there is a chance it will actually go yuri eventually.
Here's the thing, the author has made yuri in the past and didn't tweet any excuses about it nor say how she doesn't label her work and leaves it up to the readers. Here she is explicitly labels it "girlship" from the very beginning and has now on several occasions made sure that we know she doesn't see it as yuri. Saying it's up to fans just confirms the no homo, that it will end in friendship but the fans can ship her characters if they want. I would call it subtext if it weren't for the author coming out and saying that it isn't subtext.