Hearing Fujiwara Chika's complaint, Tanaka Masao offered her his straw.
"Why don't you use mine? It's perfect for you right now."
Fujiwara Chika glanced at the straw Tanaka Masao offered and shook her head.
"Never mind, mine is still barely usable. Junior Tanaka should go help the others instead."
Saying that, Fujiwara Chika pointed to the others.
The others had all bought fruit tea, flower tea, or lemonade, so they all had thin straws.
Only Tanaka Masao, who had added various things to his milk tea, took a thick straw.
Whether it was because the straws were of poor quality or the protective film was too good, none of their straws worked.
Tanaka Masao shook his head helplessly, 'Let me do it.'
With two successive 'plop' sounds, Tanaka Masao's drink straw added two new drink flavors.
Fujiwara Moeha: "Thank you, Tanaka-senpai."
Shirogane Kei: "Thank you, Senpai."
Oh, these two 'Senpai's made Tanaka Masao feel so good that he wanted to just give them the straws, but unfortunately, he had other tasks.
"Me too, hurry, hurry."
Kashi held her cup in front of Tanaka Masao, urging him.
Tanaka Masao reluctantly helped Kashi open it, his movements a bit rough, causing a lot of the drink in Kashi's hand to spill out.
This made Kashi feel a little pained.
"Be careful, really."
She quickly brought the cup to her mouth, ensuring not a single drop was wasted.
After resolving Kashi's small matter, Tanaka Masao turned his gaze to Yukinoshita Yukino, raising the straw in his hand.
Yukinoshita Yukino hesitated for a moment, then handed over her cup.
"Please."
"No problem."
He successfully helped Yukinoshita Yukino open her cup and handed it to her.
Finally, everyone's attention settled on the only remaining Kaguya.
Kaguya's mind was frantically complaining.
"Why does everyone need help? If the straw doesn't work, can't you just ask the shop owner for a new one? Is it to save resources?"
"If everyone is doing this, will I seem too unsociable and a bit strange if I don't cooperate?"
In the end, Tanaka Masao successfully helped everyone open their cups before he had time to open his own.
Because Tanaka Masao had helped too many people, the straw in his hand had become soft and deformed.
However, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; even in poor condition, this straw still completed its task.
"You have completed your work, you can rest now."
Straw: "No, I have over-completed my work, I can't go on."
The group drank their beverages while strolling around nearby.
"Wow, this panda water bottle is so cute."
Fujiwara Chika held up a panda-shaped water bottle, displaying it in front of everyone.
"Fujiwara-senpai, how do you open this water bottle?"
"Junior Tanaka, you don't even know this? Of course, it's like this."
Saying that, Fujiwara Chika demonstrated, twisting off the lid of the water bottle.
"Ah, Fujiwara-senpai, you took off the panda's head."
"Sumimasen (I'm sorry), I didn't mean to, wait, no, I didn't, I just took off the lid."
Fujiwara Chika looked at the water bottle in her hand, screwed the cap back on, and re-covered it.
"Never mind, this water bottle's design is bad. How can you twist off the head of a cute panda?"
Yukinoshita Yukino, who had originally intended to buy a water cup, heard their conversation and silently withdrew her hand.
Shop owner: "Let me say thank you, because of you, my shop is closing. Thank you, thanks to you, all my customers are gone."
Tanaka Masao spoke up.
"If I were to design a water bottle, I wouldn't directly use a panda; that's too straightforward and a bit low-end."
"Making it look like bamboo, not only is it subtle and elegant, but it also has a retro feel."
The others listened and thought it was a good idea, Fujiwara Chika said.
"Printing pandas on the bamboo tube would also be nice."
Yukinoshita Yukino also suggested.
"I think writing some poems or something similar would also work, and it could even be customized according to the customer's request."
The shop owner on the other side heard their ideas, perked up his ears, and thought it was a good idea.
"Let me say thank you, because of you, I have an idea. Thank you, thanks to you, good business is coming."
The boss stepped forward and said with a big smile.
"I just heard the suggestions from a few customers, and I will actively adopt them. This is a gift from our shop to a few customers."
Saying that, the shop owner took out seven bracelets and gave them to the group.
"There's even a gift!"
Fujiwara Chika took the bracelet, looking quite happy, never expecting that one day she could acquire things through wisdom and inspiration.
Fujiwara Moeha and Shirogane Kei, who had barely spoken, were surprised to receive gifts and thanked the boss.
The gifts put everyone in a good mood, and they each bought a few more items in the shop before leaving.
After seeing the group off, the shop owner began contacting people to produce new cups.
....
Leaving the shop, Tanaka Masao and his group went to another shop nearby.
Looking at the pattern at the shop entrance, Tanaka Masao felt it looked familiar.
"Is this mr. pan?"
This panda doll looked a bit fierce, unlike other dolls that were round and cute. This was mr. pan, Yukinoshita Yukino's favorite panda doll in the story.
Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes lit up.
"I didn't expect there to be a specialty store here, so many."
Seeing how much Yukinoshita Yukino liked it, Tanaka Masao naturally spoke up and led the group inside.
Once inside, Yukinoshita Yukino immediately plunged into the pile of dolls.
Fujiwara Chika also picked up a doll and commented.
"It feels a bit different from what I've seen before, but looking at those fierce eyes, it looks so much like the President."
"President!"
As if a keyword had been triggered, Kaguya, who had been lingering on the sidelines with no interest, came closer.
The moment she saw mr. pan, her eyes instantly became clear.
"Indeed, it looks so much like the President's eyes."
One mr. pan successfully attracted two aloof beauties.
Tanaka Masao also picked up a mr. pan doll.
This particular mr. pan was holding a wine bottle, looking very much like a small hooligan.
"Is this the legendary 'bad boys get the girls'? It seems Yukinoshita Yukino also has a rebellious side."
He couldn't help but imagine Yukinoshita Yukino, with bandages wrapped around her chest, wearing a white lab coat with "Yoroshiku" (Nice to meet you) written on the back, squatting on the ground, holding a baseball bat, and saying fiercely:
"Hey, hey, Tanaka-kin, you bastard, hand over the money."
"Delinquent Yukinoshita, that actually sounds pretty good."