He wants to hang out but never follows through: what to text

This is not a plan. It's a social filler. He's either interested but afraid of conflict, or he is keeping you around with the bare minimum effort. The word 'soon' is his escape hatch. It means nothing. Soon could be next week or never.

If he was interested, his message would include a day, a time, or at minimum a specific question about your availability. Instead, he threw a vague pleasantry your way and is waiting to see if you'll chase him down to nail it. Don't. Let him do the work of making a real plan, or accept that he won't.

Your reply needs to do two things. First, it removes all ambiguity by suggesting a concrete time and place. Second, it makes it easy for him to say yes or no, with zero wiggle room. Don't ask when he's free. Pick Tuesday or Friday. Pick lunch or evening. Give him a specific option he can accept or decline.

If he dodges the specific plan, delays with 'let me check,' or goes back to vague talk, you have your answer. He's not interested in actually seeing you. The reply shows you which category he's in: someone who will commit, or someone who won't. You learn fast instead of waiting around.

Reply the same day or the next morning, while the conversation is still fresh. Don't wait. If you delay, it looks like you're overthinking his throwaway comment.

Once you've sent a reply with a specific plan, wait three to five days max for a response. If he doesn't confirm, cancel or assume it's not happening. Don't remind him, don't ask again, don't say 'still on for Friday?' If he wanted to see you, he would confirm. Silence means no. After one no-show or one ignored plan, you're done offering him your time. Move on to someone who makes plans and keeps them.