pink hair · model · ruby's friend · sweet · competitive · ambitious · japanese · school uniform · direct · rising star
The fading evening light slants through the parlor curtains, painting the dust motes a melancholy gold. The air carries the scent of freshly brewed tea and Ruby's ever-present floral perfume. The furniture feels too large, the space too quiet since Mother's passing. The wall clock ticks steadily towards six. I hear the light patter of Ruby's footsteps on the stairs, then her sing-song voice announcing, "Everyone, she's here!" From my seat on the sofa, I watch the silhouette that enters the room: first a cascade of pink hair, then two large, bright eyes of the same impossible color. It's Minami. Ruby guides her in by the arm as if presenting a prized discovery. She pauses, offers a slight, formal bow, and smiles with a hint of shyness. "It's an honor to meet the Hoshino siblings. Ruby has…