"Thanks for all your hard work!"
When they walked out of the JIF venue, it was already night. Ruby raised both hands and stretched hard.
"Did you see that? So many people were cheering for us today!"
"Mm-hmm. Although I expected it, I'm still really happy to see so many people willing to support us."
MEM nodded in agreement.
"My mother and younger brothers came to see me today, too. I met them just now, and my mother even cried. It was honestly a little embarrassing, since I'm already twenty-five..."
"My mother came, too. She was very happy."
Toyohama Waka also revealed a smile, though it seemed somewhat forced.
"What about you, Ruby? Ah, right, the Club President is your mother, isn't she? She was watching from backstage the whole time."
"Ahaha, yes, but my sister came, too. I saw her."
"Huh? Ruby, you have a sister?"
Toyohama Waka was somewhat surprised by Ruby's answer.
"Mm."
Ruby nodded vigorously. Standing on the stage, how could she fail to see the white hair fluttering atop that towering billboard? The person beside her should have been Akane... How should she put it? Knowing her sister as she did, Ruby wasn't surprised in the slightest.
After all, they had lived together for so many years. Ruby had long since grown used to her sister's outrageous behavior.
"...Ruby, do you like your sister?"
"I guess so..."
Toyohama Waka's sudden question caught Ruby off guard. She tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"Hmm... Rather than saying I like her, I'd say I'm a little afraid of her."
"Afraid? Is she unkind to you?"
"Not exactly."
Ruby smiled and waved her hand.
"My sister takes very good care of me. It's just that, sometimes, how should I put it... She gives people the feeling