We shouldn't forget that Ep1 was just the first in game day till he goes to geography class, Ep2 the first two school days, Ep3 the third school day and Ep4 was the whole Riverside plot, the beach date with Layla/Elena, and the Yellow Snow concert with Alexis. So, if you just look at the plot Valeria doesn't show up late.
But we only get our first major interaction with her, with choices, on training camp in ep8, between that first glimpse and the training camp we are mostly hearing about her from Zach rather than interacting with her, that's why she still feels like the "new girl".
a chick that acts chill and cool, dresses quirky and stylish, everyone immediately likes, is pretty awesome in her field and even can fight... this much "perfection" combined with the name led to the theory.
She's a sneaky bitch who is fully aware that Layla has the hots for MC and he's in a serious relationship with Alexis, but that doesn't stop her to hunt him.
Making characters without any beef in the story of this game is easy,
they just support this or that sub plot and might be a hindrance or a spotlight for the MC.
Unfortunately, MC is triggered and put down by emotional abuse in this game,
funnyly enough, as much as the girls, like the pics above show, are getting phisical abuse.
That is attempted rape and grounds for a couple a nights in jail for people who do not know eachother at all, especially as the official GF of the offender is looking on ready to jab him.