  An analysis of the direct correlation functions $c_{ij} (r)$ of binary
additive hard-sphere mixtures of diameters $\sigma_s$ and $\sigma_b$ (where the
subscripts $s$ and $b$ refer to the "small" and "big" spheres, respectively),
as obtained with the rational-function approximation method and the WM scheme
introduced in previous work [S.\ Pieprzyk \emph{et al.}, Phys.\ Rev.\ E {\bf
101}, 012117 (2020)], is performed. The results indicate that the functions
$c_{ss}(r<\sigma_s)$ and $c_{bb}(r<\sigma_b)$ in both approaches are monotonic
and can be well represented by a low-order polynomial, while the function
$c_{sb}(r<\frac{1}{2}(\sigma_b+\sigma_s))$ is not monotonic and exhibits a well
defined minimum near $r=\frac{1}{2}(\sigma_b-\sigma_s)$, whose properties are
studied in detail. Additionally, we show that the second derivative
$c_{sb}''(r)$ presents a jump discontinuity at
$r=\frac{1}{2}(\sigma_b-\sigma_s)$ whose magnitude satisfies the same
relationship with the contact values of the radial distribution function as in
the Percus-Yevick theory.
