What do think I should do now?

[Harizu]

So at the end of November I told this guy that I've been liking for more than a year that I like him. Then at the beginning of December we went out together to a comic shop (we had already done this another time in September). While we were together he made me understand he's not ready for another relationship yet. He didn't openly say that but he said that now he thinks he can't find someone special anymore and that he just wants friends (male and female). I can understand it was because of his last relationships. His last two girlfriends were real a**holes, one of them was unfaithful to him and the other was kind of violent towards him. He broke up with the last one in July.
So yeah I can understand that.
In the last weeks he's been nice to me (he usually is to most people but he got even nicer towards me) and he even texted me to wish me a happy new year (which I would have never expected from him).
I guess he sees me as a friend now.
So what should I do now according to you?
Some details:
I'm 16 and I'm gonna be 17 in October this year; he's 17 and is going to be 18 in May this year.
We didn't meet at school because we go to different school but at the gym we do karate in.
I generally see twice or three times a week.
We share many interests (we like the same music, we both like Japanese culture, videogames, comics, anime/manga).

[Justdance613]

I think you should wait some time and then ask him when you think he is ready. This probably isn't the best advise because I have only had one girlfriend.

[Living For Love]

Just give him some time before taking the next step. You need to prove him you're not going to act like his two other girlfriends acted before, you need to let him know that you're different, a decent person, and that you will care about him.