Asa really does need a friend like Emiri. If her feelings are 100% genuine (which I think they are, as in a previous chapter she told Asa that she can be the real her only around her) then I feel like she can become a pillar of support when things start to get 'real' for Asa. Even though Asa and Maiko do not have the same relationship as a mother and child, I'm sure Asa will be relying on Emiri rather than Maiko as there's just some things you really can't tell your guardian figure.
I feel like we're starting to see Asa's dream world staring to crumble down. She will have to come to terms with her grief in her own way, which she has been doing, but I think it will soon be the time where she may need some external support.
@dokidoki
That's fair. I feel like Maiko kinda snapped due to the sudden appearance of Asa's friend. My interpretation with her making dinner really quickly seemed like she understood she said something quite mean, but felt awkward and wanted to make up for it a bit. Asa's outburst is understandable though, she can't read Maiko's mind and probably found it really bizarre.
As for her friend, I'm not sure why she's trying to get Asa to change her looks, like with hair this chapter and makeup last chapter. I assume its because she's discovering these things now and finding them interesting, and she's trying to get Asa to understand these new things as well. I'm not well versed in the workings of young girls' friendships. I don't see this as her being an 'ass' per se, just she's trying to continue a flow of normal interaction. I do however understand that things can be said to someone with no real meaning that can cause feelings to get hurt, but in this case she was asking Asa about hair, saw her give a fairly uninterested response back and just let that topic go.