Effie nced at Fidelia and said, "You''ve got what you wanted. You bought the mystery boxes, made some money-time to head home."


    But Fidelia was reluctant to leave. She found Effie endlessly fascinating.


    She looked at Effie, eyes bright. "Aren''t you even a little curious to see if I can get a rare one?"


    Effie raised an eyebrow. "The rare ones aren''t for sale?"


    "It''s not that," Fidelia exined. "It just means they''re hard to get-luck of the draw, you know?"


    Effie shrugged. "It''s just a marketing ploy. How else do you think these shops sell out so fast if they don''t make people chase after something rare?"


    Fidelia stared at her, exasperated. "Honestly, you''re such a buzzkill."


    Effie didn''t even bother to deny it. "Yeah, I know I am—"


    Fidelia cut her off with a huff. "I know what you''re about to say. ''That''s just the way


    I am. If you don''t like it, leave.'' Right?"


    Effie folded her arms, arching a brow at Fidelia. "Well, if you already know, why keep pestering me? Doesn''t seem fair."


    "Effie, don''t you think you''re a little mean?" Fidelia''s eyes turned red, tears threatening to spill.


    Effie looked at her, unfazed. "You think I''m mean just because I said a couple of things? Don''t forget how you treated me back then."


    That stopped Fidelia cold. She realized she''d been out of line before.


    "I''m sorry... I..." she stammered.


    Effie cut in, her voice cool. "Go home."


    "But I really want to open a box with you," Fidelia pleaded, her voice soft and hopeful. “Just one. You might end up loving it, who knows?"


    Effie replied tly, "Not a chance."


    Shirley, on the other hand, looked delighted. "Oh,e on, Effie! Open one! I heard first-timers have insane luck maybe you''ll pull a rare one right away!"


    Effie rolled her eyes. "Impossible. If the


    were that easy to get,


    are ones be rare. Scarcity is


    t makes them valuable


    Even as she spoke, Effie grabbed a box at random and tore it open without a second thought.


    Before she''d even registered what was inside, Shirley and Fidelia both shrieked, "Oh my God, the rare one!"


    Effie froze, staring at the little figurine in her hand andparing it to the picture on the box. Sure enough-it was the rare one.


    She blinked. "That''s it? That''s all it takes to get a rare one?"


    Fidelia gaped. "No way is it that simple!" She shoved her phone at Effie. "Look— see for yourself. The odds are insanely low!"


    Effie nced at the phone, then handed it back with a shrug. "Yeah, I get it."


    She slipped the rare figurine into her pocket and announced, "I''m heading back to work."


    Fidelia watched her go, then narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. "Effie, are you faking it? How can you be so calm?"


    Effie looked at her, expression unmoved. "Why would I fake anything?"


    "Whatever don''t want to argue," Fidelia said, pressing the rare


    figurine into Effie''s hands. "You


    opened it, so it''s yours. If you don''t


    want it, just toss it."  fo


    With that, she scooped up her remaining mystery boxes and dashed off.


    Shirley watched Fidelia''s retreating figure, then turned to Effie.


    Effie stared down at the box in her hand, baffled. "She''s so weird."


    Shirley grinned at Effie. "Honestly? I think she really likes you."


    Effie rolled her eyes. Shirley was imagining things—she didn''t believe that at all.