Hi, redkitty120! Congrats on finishing the game & thank you for sparing your time to write this review ^.^)/
First of all, Kaiden's route was a challenge to write. I had forgotten how many times I revised it--my proofreader is probably a saint for having put up with me haha. Nevertheless it's one of my proudest moment when I finished writing his story so I'm really happy and flattered to hear you love it^///^
**SPOILER ALERT**
As for Maya, I understand too well about your frustration x'D
There are a couple of reasons why she's like that:
- First off, education & living circumstances. She is naive & too-trusting to a fault. Hence, she got very depressed when her friends turned on her until her hair fell off & she cut her hair short.
She should've learned from past experience to be more wary of people, but even so, she still try and see the best in them(thanks to her family & her work place. The pole dancers are often underestimated & disdained by society but to Maya, they're people like her who are just trying to get by. They helped her to trust once more in humanity.)
As for her packing items, she never went too far from home/overseas & with her low education... she just went and packed whatever popped in her mind like a nervous child :'D If I remember correctly, she did bring matches but later it got wet in the river scene?
I understand where you're coming from though. She is a late bloomer. Maya's journey to maturity still has quite a long way to go, but she does understand her flaws and in her way, is working hard (though sometimes, she can't help the way she is, being a habit/just too stubborn to do otherwise like all growing child lol).
Oh and fun fact; the hint for her immature characterization is that neon pink jacket she's wearing. She wears it because Sarah bought it for her & it's comfortable--but most adults will probably too embarassed to wear it in public 😂
- The other reason is... I don't know how to explain this. But you know that a lot of the stereotype Heroine is like Maya? Very trusting, hardworking, too nice, Mary Sue-ish, etc... I was inputting some of the stereotype character into her & it was my attempt to show people that not all villain will suddenly turn 'good'/be reasoned with when they meet the 'right heroine' like in animes 😂 and you catch it! It's also my attempt for a subtle 'friends to lovers/friends'
I hope I answered your questions!
xoxo,
SweetChiel