Maybe I'm wrong, but my interpretation is that Pete hit EC in the face like that in hopes that he'd knock him back into consciousness instead of instinct mode, so that EC can enjoy the rest of the fight as much as Pete is.
She's told her brother about the watch, though. It was part of what got her the agreement to live next door to Uichi. The mastermind was (seemingly) surprised to hear about the clover watch when Yotsuha was trying to use it previously, and has been reactionary to Yotsuha derailing the plans...
This feels like the intensity of Blue Lock without getting into the absurdity of it, more grounded like a Slam Dunk or Haikyuu!!. It feels really exciting to find something like this so early into the start of the series.
Maybe, but the mangaka dropped us off in the middle of a status-quo changing event, where both characters clearly have feelings for one another, and everyone else is aware of their feelings for one another. When characters are developing feelings for one another after an introduction in a slice...
This series is cute, but the chapters are too short if this is going to be less of a "slow-burn" and more of a "main couple who clearly like each other just stagnate and don't advance for 300 chapters". It's not clear which direction they're headed yet, but my experience with the latter leads to...