When I went to college (we call it university over here), I had a core group of friends that I hung out with during and between classes. We caught up occasionally outside of that context and drifted apart over the years. But I'd say they were my friends while I was studying.
I had other friends outside of uni that I had more to do with on a longer term basis. I still have those friends today, so they were obviously closer friends, but that doesn't make my college friends "not friends" at the time.
I call most people I work with colleagues, but some of us play basketball after work (pre-COVID, COVID has kinda killed that sort of shit), and will call each other on weekends and shit (normally about work related issues, but we have a close enough association that we trust each other a lot). I'd even go so far as calling some of the guys from work friends.
So when it comes to Maya, although she's a flawed human being (it's enjoyable that all the characters in the game are), I think she counts as a friend.
If you sum up their unavoidable interactions:
- They met on orientation day and hit it off right away, with her showing him around campus. Depending on your mc's affinity, they could already be hugging to say goodbye.
- They catch up in their first class together then go out to eat together to get to know each other a bit better.
- While she reluctantly lets him stay with her (it's no simple ask for a girl to let a guy she's known for only a day to bunk with her), in no time she lets him stay longer and enjoys his company, and they exchange numbers.
- They enjoy watching movies together, rather intimately.
- She shares that she fakes having a boyfriend to stop guys being interested in her.
- She fucks things up when she grinds him awake, but that doesn't mean she can never be his friend.
- Once the mc wakes up, he starts getting into it and they both start getting off.
- She feels bad for what she did, especially when she finds out she was the only one that ended up doing it, she apologises and she and the mc make out.
- Depending on your choices, they can have another movie night where they end up partying together (her basically in her underwear), she shares a bit more about her past.
- Even though she's a bit jealous when he goes on his date, Maya hugs him on his return, and even considers her dorm room his home.
- She worries about him when he doesn't come back one night (after his "date" with Bella).
- She chats and hangs out with the mc during class.
- They share things like his guitar playing and things like what's going on with each other (Maya and her drama with the HOTs, mc and his drama with the Jocks)
- Maya confides in the mc a lot, including that she thinks she's a lesbian (something only her brother, Josy and her dad know about).
- They hang out together outside of classes, enjoy talking with each other and even make out.
- When he comes home absolutely shitfaced, she helps him out.
- She worries for him when he goes out drunk.
- Depending on the mc's choices, they can get very close, but I won't focus on that path.
- She obviously fucks up when it comes to not telling him about Josy (particularly if they have been getting very close), but once again, that doesn't immediately nullify their friendship (although the mc could have chosen to do that in real life).
- Maya still values the mc's friendship and tries to patch things up after she screwed up.
- They study in the library together.
- They play DnG together.
- They eat lunch at the cafeteria together.
- and so on.
So yeah, that looks like the kind of shit friends do, although making out crosses the line beyond friendship, and some of her fuckups would strain the friendship.
Whether she's a
good friend is more debatable; she can be a bit of a headache, but I'd still say she squarely classifies as a friend.
But friendship isn't a universal formula. It's whatever you make it.
