For the last part... i think DPC just made a mistake here, or doesnt wanted to continue some variables in the code out of Season 1+2... So he gave it in the hands of the players to continue some "choices" of the past or not. So you could choose that you were thinking about Josy all the time, even if you said you dont have feelings for her anymore during episode 5. Its just an "easy" way out to continue some variables and set them again for the new season i guess. Doesnt bother me that much, i always choose what i did before... so the continuation fits.
All viable variables are saved and transferred into Season 3. Hundreds of them. The ones regarding "feelings for Josy" "feelings for Maya" or "no feelings" as well. If you picked Josy or Maya feelings then you will see a couple of renders in EP9 recap. It's impossible to implement w/o appropriate variables, because some of such recap moments is based on your previous choices. To show specific scene/choice in recap you need to refer to something. And the "something" in such case is only a variables.
If you're interested in what exactly is transferred into the Season 3, you may check my early post from late April:
LINK
How will this unfold? There are more than one way to go about it, without breaking her character. But i dont think DPC will make here a lot of branches for the Josy solo route... i think he will just add it like this: If the Mc is not in the throuple Josy and Maya will break up if the MC is not involved or doesnt help them to stay together (and this will happen either in ep 10 or 11, it has to). And after that Josy can/will run into the arms of the MC.
I dont think there will be a Josy solo route if the MC is in the throuple. At least not soon... and the hints during season 1 and 2 where you can "favor" one of the girls are gone now. If the MC is in the throuple, all of them are happy during ep 9. I dont think DPC will change that again soon.
I don't think that anything may break her character. A difficult moral choice is a choice too. Nobody is perfect and ideal. It also involves and brings a juicy drama and makes things more valuable. She have rights to choice something that seems more right and happy to her, even if such choice may become a terrible one.
Regarding options, think about the following. It's just speculations for now, until we don't know clearly what DPC is planned, planning and have in his head for the future eps and plot itself. But, still:
1. What will happen if throuple becomes unbalanced, I think it's pretty clear that it was and will be important in future. Favoring one of the girls would lead to a solo path with one of them OR to a full break up with both of them. Probably it will depend on how it will be interpreted and implemented. But even throuple branch itself may give us 4 different endings. The best - when the throuple survive in full, bittersweet ones when MC is left with one of the girls only and bad when MC left alone. I don't believe DPC will create a variable behaviours for MC with an except of some choices, while full break up may be the result of some of previous major choices and/or cheating, which is implemented after we chose main LI and branching system came into play.
2. Friends with feelings. This would lead to a solo paths with one of girls while not ever being in Throuple. For me it's clear that MC is placed in situation where he need to make a tough moral choice if he decide to go for one of them. He promised to be their friend, to support and help them. But if he will act in such a way, he will help them with their relationship and would probably save their couple and help them avoid the break up. On the other hand... to get the solo path with one of them he need to stay aside and don't help them, waiting for the moment of the lowest point in their relationship and break up. In EP9 we had such an option for the first time. We were not able to choice one of the sides, but to help them both or just stay away from it and let them continue to fight and argue. That's the reason, why I think it will be a very tricky way filled with a lot of drama and consequences. While one of girls would be happy, the other may be totally devastated by double betrayal. This one probably gives us the 2 different endings. Maybe with additional ones, where our MC can reconcile with girl we left alone and become a wingman to her.
3. Potential cheating paths. It would lead to a branch change/swap as well as just destroy choosen branch and left MC alone. That's why MC have an ability to tell Josy that he think about her even if he told Derek that he haven't any feeling for her anymore. For MC it would became a short journey which will destroy his current relationship, the same with Josy.
4. Break up with Throuple. It also couldn't remain intact and will lead to some consequences. In case with Jill & Bella we are able to pick an option that saves a hope in Jill and she would probably fight for MC in such case or probably sabotage his relationship with Bella. We haven't a talk with Josy after the break up, I expect we will have a similar option during convesation with her.
So it also gives us at least 2-3 options here. To tell "something" to Josy (probably Maya too) or to finally cut and end this relationship and stay faithul to picked LI & branch.
MC after the break up:
mc "(Why does this hurt so fucking much?)"
mc "(This can't be a mistake, can it?)"
Iam 100% sure there will be a Josy Solo Path, just everything goes in that direction since the start of the game. She is the main-girl of the game overall, well maybe together with Jill, regarding Love-Story. MC dreamed about her a long time, she was the first "crush" in the game, and if you decide that the MC still has feelings for her, you can clearly see that shes thinking about him too all the time... tears, kisses and whatnot included. Those scenes are not even hints anymore. Its crystal clear heading that way (depending on your choices of course)
I wrote a whole story like a wall of text about points you mentioned with an examples and explanations about 3 weeks ago:
LINK
For Maya... i just cant see a Solo-route with her at all. There were no hints in that direction either so far. It doesnt fit really. Of course DPC can start something in that direction any time... but so far he didnt, and i dont know... i dont see that coming at this point. For a Maya solo route there has to be a foundation, and that is not the case so far.
Some facts.
1. Variables for "feelings for Maya" are still present, and it's reflected in EP9 recap.
2. Maya is introvert. She doesn't show such things and her feelings and emotions so blatantly as Josy do, as well as speak about them. Also, because of life in the family where she comes from, she learned well to wear a protective mask and not show emotions, only occasionally giving vent to feelings, for example when she repeated the words of her father that he once told her "You are not the daughter that I wanted". That's why she looks so calm after fail with Burkes help, but it's only a visual illusion and her facade. For the same reason, she stays with MC for a few words after the breakup with Throuple, while Josy runs away in tears. But it doesn't mean she is ok with that and being hurted less than Josy.
3. Feelings should be mutual, it's why in case if J&M couple would fail, nothing stops Maya to pick MC as her LI. Why you grant Josy with such possibility and option and deny this right to Maya at the same time?
4. In case of J&M couple - do you think, does one of the girls need the other more? Or they are equal? When you'll answer this question to yourself, you'll understand why Maya solo is also possible.