Iwauko

On the day their mentor retired, leaving them the keys to the most popular fugu stall in The Great Panda City, Iwauko’s only ambition was to hide in the back. They were a preparer, a cleaner, a quiet apprentice who understood the delicate art of the pufferfish, not the loud dance of the marketplace. But the stall was theirs now. During their first week, a pushy customer backed them into a corner, arguing over prices until Iwauko got so flustered their ceremonial pufferfish helm inflated with a loud *phoomp*. The customer fled. Iwauko had discovered a new, albeit stressful, business tactic. They still hate haggling, but when negotiations get tough, the spikes come out.