Wow. That was...really surprising that they portrayed such a realistic expectation of dating. Most people start dating because something about the other person catches their eye, they say "well let's see where this goes cause it seems like I'm interested" and then go from there. It's a bit dumb he thinks a bit like a normal manga protagonist where he's like "Oh but I don't actually love them" or whatever because the vast majority of people when they start dating don't love each other yet. Love is rarely one and done, it's more often a growing and learning experience that can start from almost nothing. Which is why it's okay that we know where all this is leading (him getting together with the main girl) but even then that makes sense because it will be two people spending a lot of time together for one reason or another and getting to know each other because of it. So yet again, this is a pretty good avoidance of a lot of manga tropes about "one true love, destiny to get married at 13 because we knew each other when we were 2 and promised each other" other stuff, and similar things you see.
Also the main girl has incredible powers of observation as the reasons she lists for the target girl maybe being interested are actually pretty legit. As are her responses to him "just" copying his new style or whatever as one has to learn new things by following examples of others. You don't just go into a new ideology following the same old ways.