The moment the panda head was put on, the hideous Tanaka Masao disappeared, replaced by a round and adorable panda.
Tanaka Masao: Hey, who are you calling hideous!
"Hmm, that's much better."
Fujiwara Chika clapped her hands, looking at her masterpiece with great satisfaction.
"Everyone, look, Tanaka Panda!"
Tanaka Masao was much rounder than Fujiwara Chika, able to completely fill out the mascot costume, indeed looking like a panda.
"Isn't he cute?"
"Yes, super cute."
Perhaps it was because Tanaka Masao's face was no longer visible, or the special charm of the mascot costume.
Fujiwara Moeha and Shirogane Kei, who had been somewhat wary, instantly relaxed and gathered closer.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze towards Tanaka Masao changed, with a strong affection almost overflowing.
Inside the mascot costume, Tanaka Masao felt the four beautiful girls surrounding him, feeling quite pleased.
"Hehe, I'm really popular. Oh, who's touching my belly?"
If not for the head covering, Tanaka Masao's expression at that moment would surely have scared everyone away.
Through the somewhat blurry vision of the mascot costume, Tanaka Masao clearly saw who was in front of him.
One of Tanaka Masao's previous guesses was correct: facing the cat-loving Yukinoshita Yukino, cosplaying as a cat would surely win her heart.
Pandas are also cats.
"Yukinoshita Classmate, what are you doing?"
Yukinoshita Yukino, who had been called out, had a flushed face and awkwardly coughed.
"I'm checking the quality of this mascot costume."
"Really?"
"Of course it's real, how could it be fake?"
"Then, Yukinoshita Classmate, have you found anything?"
Yukinoshita Yukino withdrew her hand and said very seriously.
"Tanaka-kin, I think you can consider not losing weight. If possible, you can even eat a bit more to gain weight."
"Yukinoshita Classmate, do you even hear what you're saying?"
Tanaka Masao was quite speechless.
"You're actually actively tempting me to fall, that's truly evil.
I finally made up my mind to lose weight, and you know all about my efforts and hard work over such a long time..."
Tanaka Masao spoke as if denouncing the crimes of a wicked woman, with such heartfelt anguish.
Yukinoshita Yukino felt somewhat ashamed after being told off.
She actually tried to persuade him not to lose weight for her own selfish desires, which was truly inappropriate.
"You're right. How about this, starting tomorrow, I'll supervise you to increase your training volume."
Hearing Yukinoshita Yukino's words, Tanaka Masao was almost dumbfounded. Didn't I say all that? Is this what I wanted?
I wanted you to feel guilty and give me some benefits. How could you be so unappreciative?
"Cough, cough, Yukinoshita Classmate, you don't have to feel so guilty. As for the training volume, just take it slowly. Isn't it said that gradual progress is best, and too much is as bad as too little?"
Fujiwara Chika laughed at his words.
"Haha, so Junior Tanaka also gets scared sometimes. I heard before that Yukinoshita Classmate was helping Junior Tanaka lose weight, which is how you two met.
I still don't know why Yukinoshita Classmate would help Junior Tanaka."
"Let me explain that."
Tanaka Masao proactively explained about Yukinoshita Yukino's Service Club.
Hearing the explanation, Fujiwara Chika's eyes lit up.
"There's such a club? It sounds so cool and amazing.
I also want to create such a club to help everyone, but I still have student council work now..."
Fujiwara Chika was very distressed; her student council work left her no time to create a new club.
"Ah, that's right."
Suddenly, her eyes brightened as she thought of a good idea.
"The student council also helps students in need. We can choose a specific time to specifically help people who need assistance.
If it's a request for relationship advice, that would be even better."
Fujiwara Chika was already fantasizing about discussing relationship-related topics with others every day.
"Hey, Yukinoshita Classmate, if you receive a request next time and need help, be sure to contact me, especially for romance-related requests. I will definitely give it my all."
Hearing Fujiwara Chika's words, Tanaka Masao found it somewhat amusing.
For Yukinoshita Yukino to receive a request, according to the original story, she would have to wait another year for her next request.
This year, one could say, he was entirely responsible for boosting her performance.
Hearing Tanaka Masao's laughter, Yukinoshita Yukino asked.
"Tanaka-kin, what are you laughing at?"
"Just thinking about when Yukinoshita Classmate might receive a romance request. I could help out too."
Yukinoshita Yukino immediately understood the implication in his words: he dared to suggest she wouldn't receive requests.
"Tanaka-kin, you don't need to trouble yourself with that. Too many requests aren't a good thing either. Right now, all I'm thinking about is diligently handling the requests I have."
The unspoken meaning was, Tanaka-kin, I'll deal with you properly once we get back.
Laughter and joy filled the air, and there were even other beautiful women coming to take photos with Tanaka Masao, which gave Tanaka Masao the illusion that he was very popular.
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere, under the guidance of staff, Shinomiya Kaguya changed into special clothing, completed disinfection, and arrived at the Panda Garden.
The panda's mood was quite stable at this time, and with the help of the zookeeper, Shinomiya Kaguya could gently stroke the panda and feed it.
Although she wasn't particularly fond of pandas, the thought of having obtained an opportunity that Fujiwara Chika and the others envied made her feel a little smug.
"How about that, Fujiwara student, you see? I'm touching your beloved panda.
You must be looking down at me with envious eyes right now, right? Let me enjoy your unsightly expression."
Thinking this, Shinomiya Kaguya smiled and looked up in the direction of Fujiwara Chika.
What she saw, however, was a lively group of people gathered around Tanaka Masao in a panda mascot costume, with no one paying attention to her at all.
Shinomiya Kaguya: ...
"Pandas are truly cute. I can touch a real one. They can only find comfort in a fake one.
I'm not sad at all, not at all."