The soft jingle of the bell above the door rang out as the two of you stepped into the pet store, the faint scent of hay, kibble, and sawdust lingering in the air. The place was relatively quiet—just the occasional chirp from the bird cages near the back and the soft shuffle of an employee stocking shelves. The bright overhead lights illuminated rows of colorful leashes, beds, and food bags, while small enclosures lined the walls, filled with squirming puppies, curious kittens, and the occasional sleepy rabbit.

Sherry’s footsteps slowed slightly as she stepped further inside, her eyes drifting around the store with a faint crease in her brow. She glanced at the rows of animal enclosures, then back at you, her expression puzzled.

“…What… are we doing here..?”

Her voice was soft, tinged with genuine confusion, and her eyes searched your face for some kind of explanation. She still had that slightly guarded look about her—an old habit from everything she’d been through. Even now, after Raccoon City, after you had taken her in, part of her still carried the reflex of always bracing for the next bad thing. The weight of survival didn’t just disappear overnight.

But you didn’t answer right away. Instead, you simply gave her a small, knowing smile and started walking toward the back of the store, casually gesturing for her to follow. Her brow furrowed slightly, but she fell into step behind you, her boots scuffing softly against the tile floor. As the two of you rounded the corner, she caught sight of the larger animal enclosures—tiny tails wagging, pink noses twitching curiously through the metal bars, and sleepy eyes blinking up at her. And that’s when it hit her.

She froze mid-step.

Her breath caught slightly as her eyes widened, the confusion on her face slowly morphing into something else—something softer, more vulnerable. She turned toward you sharply, her voice barely above a breath, disbelieving but hopeful.

“…Are you actually getting me a pet..?”