Popura Taneshima is a 17-year-old high school student working at the Wagnaria family restaurant. Her height measures 140 cm in the initial seasons, increasing to 141 cm in the third, leading to constant mistaken assumptions she is an elementary or middle school student—a source of profound frustration. Her name originates from the poplar tree, reflecting her parents' aspiration for her to grow tall, an irony recurrently emphasized in the series. She possesses long, fluffy mahogany hair typically tied in a ponytail, frequently tousled by coworkers such as Jun Satou. Despite her petite frame, she is notably well-endowed. To project maturity during study sessions, she occasionally wears fake glasses. A closely guarded secret involves her elevator shoes, worn to gain height, which Hiroomi Souma exploits to manipulate her into performing his duties. Bubbly and earnest, Popura deeply values workplace harmony and actively mediates conflicts among colleagues. She remains oblivious to certain interpersonal dynamics, like Satou's romantic interest in Yachiyo Todoroki, yet perceptively identifies Yachiyo's feelings for Satou before Yachiyo herself acknowledges them. Hyper-aware of her stature, she measures her height nearly daily and reacts intensely to remarks about her size. Her father works as a public servant, and her mother is a housewife; both parents stand shorter than Popura. She attends the same high school as Souta Takanashi, though she is a year older. Initially envisioned as the series protagonist, the narrative focus shifted to Souta. Popura admires Souta but habitually mispronounces his surname as "Katanashi." She idolizes his cross-dressing identity "Kotori" as a feminine ideal, though this later shifts to admiration for Souta's tall family members, particularly his mother—who conquered her own short stature. Popura pressures Souta to reconcile with Mahiru Inami, organizing a compensatory date after he upsets her. She maintains a close friendship with Inami, aiding her management of androphobia, and serves as an "older sister" figure to Aoi Yamada, unaware Yamada patronizes her. Satou vents frustrations by teasing Popura about her height or hair, while Yachiyo and manager Kyouko Shirafuji regularly shield her from harassment. Her development culminates in appointment as Chief of Staff following Yachiyo's departure, acknowledging Popura's responsibility, diligence, and role in maintaining team unity. During a pivotal clash with Souta’s mother—who initially opposes his employment—Popura’s presence helps resolve the conflict by demonstrating Souta’s evolution beyond his fondness for "small things."