Duanmu Huai had no idea what happened between Toyohama Waka and Sakurajima Mai after Waka went back. In any case, several days later, when he received a text message and came to the seaside, the person he saw was the restored Sakurajima Mai.
"Yo, you finally changed back?"
"Yeah. I still have to thank you."
The restored Sakurajima Mai looked at Duanmu Huai with a complicated expression, then lowered her head and thanked him.
"Come to think of it, I really didn't expect you to bring her to see the LIVE performance I did. Weren't you worried that performing in Sakurajima Mai's style would make Waka even more uneasy?"
"Oh, I couldn't help it. Just like you back then, there was nothing else I could think of, so I figured I'd give it a try."
Duanmu Huai shrugged.
"I think you're a pretty good big sister. You should understand and sympathize with your little sister's feelings."
"You really trust me, don't you?"
"More or less."
After their brief exchange, the two fell silent. They simply stood by the coast, gazing at the sea before them. People could be seen playing and laughing on the beach, but they had nothing to do with them.
A moment later, Sakurajima Mai broke the silence.
"Speaking of which, how did you figure I would do something like that?"
"Because you're the big sister."
"That's it?"
"What do you think of Ruby?"
To Sakurajima Mai's surprise, Duanmu Huai did not answer her question directly. Instead, he asked something completely unrelated.
"Ruby? She's great. Straightforward, passionate, and very polite. She can be a little willful at times, but she knows where to draw the line..."
"Right? Right?"
Hearing Sakurajima Mai's answer, Duanmu Huai nodded in satisfaction.
"After all, I raised her."
"...You raised her?"
"That's right."