There was no way that Clan would have any equipment for hunting insects, and Koutarou couldn't just have her without any since he was the one who invited her. So, Koutarou went to the mall with the intention of buying a net and a cage.
“... I'm sure Clan could come up with some invention for it... but insect hunting should be done with some feelings behind it”
Koutarou imagined that if Clan was serious, she could come up with some invention that would capture every beetle on the mountain. But he wanted her to swing a net around and get a proper feel for insect hunting. The children would probably respect her more that way too.
“... Clan is short, and doesn't have a lot of stamina... Maybe these ones made for children would be good. But she'd probably get angry if she found out... I need to make sure I remove the label before I give it to her...”
While thinking of Clan, Koutarou entered a toy shop looking for an insect catching net. Clan was a good girl, but just like Theia, she had a lot of pride. Consideration was needed to be made even when choosing insect catching nets.
“Oh?”
That was when Koutarou caught a glance of a familiar girl by the entrance. She hadn't noticed Koutarou inside and passed by the storefront. Her expression bothered him a little so he returned the net to the shelf and chased after her.
“Landlord-san!”
“Eh? ...Oh, Satomi-kun”
The person that turned around to Koutarou's call was Shizuka. However, her normally cheerful expression was nowhere to be seen. She was smiling, but it was a somewhat sad smile, different from her usual positive and bright one.
I can't say I like that kind of expression...
The only time those around Koutarou would show this kind of expression was when they were carrying some kind of problem. A recent example would be Theia, and the one that had left the biggest impression of was Alaia's. Koutarou couldn't just leave Shizuka be like that and he chased after her.
“Did something happen?”
“No, nothing at all”
Shizuka shook her head while smiling. However, Koutarou couldn't accept it.
“It sure doesn't look like that to me”
“It might look like it, but nothing has happened now. It happened several years ago...”
Shizuka showed what she was holding on both hands to Koutarou.
So... that's what it is...
Shizuka was carrying a large bouquet, and if it was something that had happened several years ago, there wasn't that many possibilities left.