This is actually common in many other cultures and I wish it was more normalized in general US culture.
That being friendships where there is no need for a reason to hang out besides the company.
I live in NYC and I have some select friends who also grew up culturally outside the US and we do this:
If I asked them what they were up to, they’d say something like “going to the barbershop for a haircut”, “doing laundry at the laundromat”, or other errands.
I would then ask to tag along and maybe say a thing or two from time to time, but for the most part I’m doing something parallel to them.
Usually I’m reading a book, checking my phone, watching Netflix, working on my laptop etc.
It’s great.
There’s no need for an excuse to be with these friends.
We just enjoy each other’s company.
Not related, but OP, if you get the chance I recommend at least trying out Project Wingman in VR with joysticks.
Holy shit, was it a transcendent experience.
I beat the campaign with a controller on a monitor my first time around, but on my second playthrough I played it in VR and I found there is nothing like looking for bogeys and tracking them by peeking around your cockpit.
More related to the prompt, but if anyone wants a recommend:
I just beat both Pentiment and Return of the Obra Dinn and both were truly the historical detective / mystery games that I’ve waited so long for.
Go into both completely blind and report back. I guarantee you, that you will not be disappointed.