It's hard to say he's playing games. It could be that he has a lot on his mind or is really busy, but still takes a moment to watch your stories because he cares about you at some level. He might not have the time or energy to compose a text right now.
Perhaps he's a bit shy or nervous about texting back. By watching your stories, he can stay updated on your life in a more passive way. It's possible that he doesn't feel confident enough to start a proper text conversation, but he still wants to know what's going on with you.
No, not necessarily. As I said before, he might be shy or just prefer this low - key way of keeping tabs on you.
Perhaps he doesn't want to be too forward by texting. Watching your stories is a more passive way of staying in touch. It could also be that he's just curious about your life in general but doesn't have the intention of starting a full - on conversation via text.
Yes, it's normal. People often browse stories without following the account. They might be interested in the specific content of the stories at that moment.
Maybe he's shy. He wants to keep up with your life through your stories but doesn't have the courage to start a conversation.
Maybe he's just casually interested in your stories without wanting to fully follow you. He might not want to seem too eager or committed by following.
There's a possibility that he's just casually browsing. He might not follow a lot of people but still checks out interesting stories when they pop up. Another reason could be that he doesn't want to be inundated with all of your posts in his feed if he were to follow you, but likes the quick and ephemeral nature of stories.
It could mean he's still interested in you but is shy or doesn't know how to start a conversation. Maybe he enjoys seeing what you're up to through your stories.
Perhaps she just prefers to observe silently. She might be the type who likes to take in information passively, like through your stories, without the pressure of having to reply to a text. It could also be that she's in a situation where she can't text back at the moment, but has time to quickly check out your stories.
It depends on your relationship with her. If you're just getting to know each other, it could be normal. But if she used to text back and now doesn't, it might be a sign that something has changed. However, just the fact that she watches your stories shows she still has some level of interest. So don't worry too much right away.