I don't like the Merika thing much.
I want them together, let's not get twisted, but it looks like the love from her was just dumped in the middle of a chapter without cause or reason.
I don't think in the novel there were strong hints of it, at least not so early.
I didn't read much more from the WN, only up to when MC gets the ship redone and a special visit after it, don't even remember the new crew details, I was surprised from seeing cute girls right now and am unsure if it was like that originally too.