Some thoughts i wanted to drop off.
The new friend(s):
As mentioned already, i guess i'd go with the: No new characters added, but the formation of a new friendship between already established characters.
Likely Maya+. Because she is one of the more secluded characters. Like, who is she even friends with? Ayane, Ami, Akira?
Maybe she'll bond with Makoto more?
Or any other combination who'd form a new friendship.
The Black Orb (Apologise if it was already brought up):
I wonder. Since it was eating away at Akiras mind in Sensei Quest.
Might this be a metaphor/culmination/accumulation for what happened to Akira when Sekai died?
The thing that caused his catatonic state back then?
I can see the Black Orb being a manifestation of Akira's memories related to Sekai's death.
A theory where Akira was indirectly responsible for her death also reemerges:
While trying to kill his brother (as by Akiras blurt out during "Kyoto"), he also accidentally killed Sekai.
Like, he manipulated his brothers car, while thinking Sekai would be somewhere else, but she turned up being in the car coincidentally.
This would gain more momentum if her death was during fall, which might make the Black Orb the god of fall/autum, and maybe further the lead into the "Dark Route".
and we have been badmouthing one of our greatest allies all along.
