I agree with you but I think they were trying to get the setup across with her sparring with M’Benga at the beginning, and the doc saying something to the effect of it better not being alone? He’s already established to be a good reader of body language.
But I have to say I did sigh inwardly when the romance angle was hinted at (her looking at Kirk in the night). Would’ve been better to keep it back for something developed over a time. Though I suppose given the end there’s the possibly of a relationship with the Kirk from her reality?