i didn't get to read it when it first came out and reading it all in one sitting, I can say that it's actually a pretty good series. Most of all the butt-hurt hate comments are probably because the story was released chapter by chapter, causing a lot of subtle things to slip by. I do agree the dude is a jerk but I think it really does represent how people act in real life when "they tease the person they like". He also thoroughly annoyed me, but I wouldn't hang around people like that in the first place.
And Mako does start showing that she likes Youko after the past tense confession, although quite subtly. I mostly think the reason why this story is featured because it shows the growth in their characters between Youko and Maki. Youko starts out with her inferiority complex and directed hate towards Rude-pai. But she grows up and learns to get past her inferiority complex, even if it's just a bit. Maki learns to embrace her appearance and gains self esteem. Both stand up for each other and are there for each other when they are teased by other people. The rude-pai is still rude but he apologies. The best thing that could happen is that he swallows his feelings and leaves without causing more problems.
In the end it was a nice tied up story.