That's possible, Maya mentions no having protection in Episode 7 as well. Yeah favoring Josy is required for her to wear the sweater in the hallway too.
Yeah, their date in MC room is optional. Maybe it's one of the options implying their solo paths later. Like, MC didn't help them a lot here and there, so they fall apart, etc. But it's still unknown, how DPC planned all this paths/sub-paths for the Throuple and Others (with feelings for Josy/Maya) branches. After EP8 it's more noticable that options for "help" them are only available in Others branch, since being in Throuple branch, MC always helps them. For now (EP9-11), the only options left for Throuple is a balance of solo scenes and ILY.
I think that on the Others route, we will only be able to end up with Josy and not with Maya. On that route Maya just stays friendly and nothing more, while Josy keeps being annoying with her "what if". I even think that she will stay with Maya until MC decides to start a solo relationship with MC in this scenario, thus making it imo at least as cruel as going from a throuple to a couple.
Don't forget about Maya's character and the fact that she doesn't always show what she thinks. In this sense, she is the complete opposite of Josy.
To be honest, I didn't know you would get extended scenes if you told Derek you've got feelings for Maya, but aren't going for the throuple. I only say that when I'm going for the throuple, but then you can't choose Others. Maybe something to try one of my next routes. I was going to download the complete series soon anyway for a few more playthroughs (including only going for 1 MG during the whole game, since I only did that so far with Jill to be denied by her in the end for the forced Others path), since my backlog of AVNs on Steam is almost empty again.
For Maya, if you have feelings for her, she'll tell Josy about it in their end of Episode 11 talk.
So, you're just making assumptions and all w/o playing actual paths/options? I mean, you know about that choice in EP5, but you almost insisted that nothing changes and happens to Maya after that? Of course, choice in EP5 have sense only if you go for Others branch in EP8. You won't have this option and choice in EP5 if you joined the Throuple at the end of EP4, either...
I'm saying it based on the at least 30/40 playthroughs I've done, both with and without throuple. In none of those does she go beyond just wanting to be friends if you're not on the throuple path, not even if you do all positive things for her. I also don't see why telling Derek would change that if I'm not saying anything else romantic about her (since we don't get an option for anything later or before that).
Best case scenario: summer next year
Could be, but I think it all depends on how fast he can make the new gameplay option work (or whatever it's going to be). When he told us about it, I got the feeling that it might be at least a bit challenging.
If you want him to praise the party, you just need him to have a green background in the party planner. I believe he usually is one of the easier ones to satisfy when playing with minigames.
Your hot headed tigress... Furry lover.
For some reason, I always thought that the outcome of a party was determined when Tommy talked to Queen on the roof after Vinnie left.
