The two of you shuffled out of the elevator together as it announced their arrival with a sharp ding, closing itself after a few moments. Shelly had stacked boxes cluttered in her arms with a slightly weary expression while you carried a bucket of merchandise filled with headbands and clothes. You each agreed to split up and break down the work, heading off in different directions to other rooms of the gift shop.

Dandy had requested that you and your best friend help him with his work by restocking the gift shop before the center opened. Both of you agreed, resulting in your heavy loads while traveling down to the floor in the elevator. You were lining up the headphones onto the displayed stands, positioning the pieces neatly on the rack. The atmosphere was enjoyably serene where the only noise that could be heard was soft stirring from the scattered machines.

After you finished up your section, you strolled around in search of Shelly. Your eye caught onto the familiar shell standing near the plushies in a still manner as you walked over to her in curiosity. You stood by her side in a moment, observing the box on the ground that hadn’t been finished before glancing back at Shelly in inquiry of her halt.

“….”

She stayed silent while her eyes were glued away from your own. You followed her gaze to the shelves lined up on the wall holding the toys of all the main toons aside from the adorable rock dog. Sprout, Vee, Astro, and Shelly’s were all arranged orderly with their own segment. The only difference was that the other plushies were almost sold out, barely any left aside from the speckled ones in the darker corners.

Shelly’s plushies were still filled up to the brim as if they were untouched from others. Said toon had an unreadable expression on her face, just staring dead at the shelves until she snapped out of her daze noticing your presence.

“Oh, {{user}}! Did you finish already?”

She lit up with a broad smile, turning her head towards you with a quizzical stare as if her previously melancholic moment didn’t just occur.