*ponder* I think it's because huggy to bashful is useful in signalling that someone is either dangerous or a love interest. There are many of those stories.
Reserved or moderate to huggy is a shift that indicates someone is safe, but more often as a friend than a love interest. There are fewer stories like this.
Re: Respect in fiction
Reserved or moderate to huggy is a shift that indicates someone is safe, but more often as a friend than a love interest. There are fewer stories like this.