I love that the animation team chose to give us this. It’s a slight change from the light novel and manga, but it does a far better job of showing us—visually showing us—the depth of Maomao's affection for Shisui.
The only difference between the anime and the light novel/manga is, simply, how much the two physically touch each other. How they cling so fiercely and desperately to reassure themselves that the other is safe and undamaged.
The light novel tells us, over and over, how much Maomao loves Shisui, how deeply she misses her after the events of this arc. But LN readers know that Maomao’s affections for others aren’t always clear to her. They often manifest in the way she thinks about them, and how often. Shisui is one of the people she treasures most, but she doesn’t come to terms with this until it’s too late.
And, in true Maomao fashion, in the LN/manga, she does not understand the true extent of her feelings for Shisui while she’s held captive at the stronghold. All of her thoughts and emotions are focused on survival, escape, mystery-solving—understandably so.
And physical affection is not something Maomao initiates often, if ever. She shies away from most forms of touch, and is, most certainly, not comfortable with expressing her feelings in any verbal or physical way.
Therefore, it was a conscious choice on the anime’s part to give us visual evidence of Maomao’s true feelings. Maomao doesn’t say much, but we can still see it: that relief in holding her, that reluctance to release her hand. They let us see it in the way she touches her freely, without hesitation. The viewer can see, can feel how difficult it is for Maomao to let her go, even when she, herself, hasn’t fully realized it yet.
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