當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0wBvDXAPc
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3eoz2DXYC
　　雖然每次進行任務前都會先跟陶壺叔說一聲，但這次是真的不小心弄太晚了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqz9iRtSB2
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDM5RVUj6b
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L09CxqLay
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UYS812SDK
　　一踏進門檻，就看見陶壺叔一手拿著被燒得焦黑的鐵桿從爐房探出頭來。橫紋滿布的臉在溢出的火光下變得像是石像一樣深邃，杜若關掉了手電筒，看著陶壺叔反射著油光的鼻頭說：341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7qnsn5hbg
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKhx37foCp
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC3SoiSWE2
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0FGQW6lUg
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ5nmriz7h
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBukYBQG8T3
　　「玩到這麼晚啊？」聽見杜若這麼說，陶壺叔的表情便瞬間因為皺起而變得像是要崩塌似的，大大地嘆了一口氣後，陶壺叔把手中的鐵棍放到了肩上。

　　「唉……妳這小毛頭也總到我管不著的年紀了啊。有好好吃晚餐嗎？剛才煮的一鍋還有剩著。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIZGFGzd0E
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpjFHJDuND

　　聽見後，杜若便忍不住笑了出來。這果然是陶壺叔會問的問題呢。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4nxxmG5ez
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mPIsf23nu
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjuWMv1wNh
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8cp2M1FRW
　　也許就是因為這麼在意吃喝，陶壺叔才會跟稱號一樣有圓滾滾的肚子吧。感覺就算哪天天空掉下來了，陶壺叔也還是會在意有沒有定時吃飯。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcHqEEMxuC
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAFoC9WjVE
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZnOMQkE5l
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFstwhJRCv
　　陶壺叔聳聳肩走回爐房，沒多久就小心地用兩手端著冒著白煙的小鍋走了出來。見狀，杜若趕緊上前幫忙接過。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8z1VIcQgc
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW8vZYQ0Vn
　　這是陶壺叔的拿手料理，總而言之就是把香菇、馬鈴薯跟骨頭之類的東西通通都給丟進鍋子裡頭煮。雖然看起來很隨便又很粗魯，但吃起來可一點都不輸給黃灶巷的老闆們。杜若一直覺得陶壺叔不去鎮裡開一間店真是太可惜了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOYe83qYgA
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTxJXpPlsX
　　把熱湯盛進碗裡遞給杜若後，陶壺叔也坐了下來在自己的碗裡盛了一勺。隨後兩人同時在胸前交握起了雙手。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aIEr7TlXj
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QfZVGk2gA
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBRuOF0C7v
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLTa9F1fWp
　　熱湯挾帶著暖意從喉嚨一路流經全身，讓人不禁想要閉上眼睛、伸直背脊。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI0XKu8UjW
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTXWQSQvev
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBkEn72abx
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DtWL5g5iY
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7UKLWe52K
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8Z1rwGFJk
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS41SP3eDFL
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsIdNRTkZO
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHO9CzWZ15
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVNYqA6BG8
　　「嗯……是個綁著漂亮的長長馬尾、明明長得很可愛、卻總是板著臉又很愛逞強的女生喔。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSW7GpyfMf
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BYUBRSqka
　　杜若把一時間想到能夠形容紫藤的形容詞通通都給丟了出來，才覺得紫藤明明就很漂亮，卻老是一副很不高興的樣子真是太可惜了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Iwr3Rk8gE
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Vu1RLMiN
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUz4JH4iZX
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErBTITEvAR
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTKZKBo6ou
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT3rQguwau
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrxrCPro5C
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH6xDirLM8
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcRFcXSzSf
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8wwYwflax
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsH78nb0gq
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6mH7sBTED
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWvRPZKAp0
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVeTonNRd4
　　然而陶壺叔沒有感到懷疑，只是別有深意笑了幾聲之後，就高舉起碗將熱湯給一口氣喝個精光。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLc6Ay7NxU
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISHeZNiyIm
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsgW3P8sRi
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVhk8GzZ0u
　　「嗯……好。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AtY4TrCzb
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjeiooQvWR
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy81iyVEa11
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkGBjysDeO
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdpaYoFnkB
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2VVuPkElF
　　杜若搖搖頭、把那些思緒都給甩開，然後站起身走進浴室。浴缸冒出的熱氣在月光下就像是透明的火焰隨風搖曳。杜若脫下衣物放到一旁，小心翼翼地坐進了熱水當中。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsxdHN26yl
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGduLtiDKVI
　　「哈啊——」彷彿全身都要融化的舒暢感，讓杜若忍不住叫出了聲音。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4OJIKZL2C
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2hAxu6M4v
　　伸直身子、靠著牆仰望夜空，便可以看到漫天的星斗在升起的白霧之間閃耀。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH9QvUWybX
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i8lDW60GA
　　果然再也沒有什麼比像這樣泡著澡看著夜空要來得舒服了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4Z7LitxHk
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSkF2J39YC
　　就算用玻璃蓋上，星空也會因為蒸氣而變得霧濛濛的，所以當初陶壺叔提議要加蓋天花板時，杜若才堅決地反對。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8vF8Th1rw
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBioJj8pEZ
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNMkz7dJ5c
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2MJQM95fb
　　而且杜若也知道陶壺叔總是很早就洗澡了，所以其實根本就不是什麼「剛好熱著」，而是一直在燒著水等自己吧。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstV5gdL7YG
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F8dhFJHir
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpkH8JTB1H
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO3VFNrZRW
　　只是、正因為陶壺叔是這麼善良，杜若才有預感、知道陶壺叔不可能接受那個不正常的自己。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e3VJ3IWd0
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVeqSxPZJH
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VdPjcECgA
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKPn6joH4T
　　「只是、陶壺叔為什麼都不跟我說呢？」杜若望著夜空，喃喃地說著。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPPJdeZ8FM
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOztMvpZUxy
　　『一定是怕杜若擔心吧。』朦朧中，一道聲音像是在微笑般地回應了杜若：『畢竟陶壺叔就是個責任感這麼強的人呀。』341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1rVWP5mn8
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kDpKj8SL9
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFhKGvmvNT
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Jb9RiCYCd
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN039XpSr7
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2X3yKpnQl
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgHmf1FbuT
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtYgSYhvWI
　　要是陶壺叔知道了自己其實知道陶壺叔隱瞞著自己的事情，會不會就會被陶壺叔給討厭呢？341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxQSA8T8cq
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGTCtoRJYt
　　如果、就連陶壺叔都拒絕了自己，那自己又應該待在哪裡才好？341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk2Jgec7d3
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlAOS3M4fm
　　「……我不知道啦。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED0NS8gUO2
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjb5TBI43U
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMJQnuHgwY
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHPamzn9hB
　　說到底，自己也只是在害怕這點，才會就這樣答應了紫藤。就算哪天陶壺叔真的丟下了自己，也還有知道自己另一面的紫藤可以依賴。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAd4oQnNkU
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJLpi4kwIS
　　雲實老師說過，狡猾的兔子會準備三個洞穴做為藏身之處，那抱著這樣想法的自己、肯定也是很卑鄙狡詐的吧。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxZtNknP9a
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX57gw9dHP
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt8oJc6ktU
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59COup7X96
　　捧起熱水潑在臉上，使勁地抹了幾下後，杜若便蜷起身體，讓肩膀也浸入水中。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdm2m33yRW
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdX3i0tzKp
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCvqlF7yLQ
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyVILbIAX8
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrZJZhhHev
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiwk6HEu6U
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRz27my02T
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X1XnrBzCv
　　而在視線的彼端，只有冉冉升起的熱氣向著無垠的天空遠去。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMy2IwzqrQ
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGRkUct4qN
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5buq0aVrvO
　　※341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMW7OBwnNA
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak9fACQ7Hi
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOanAruZglT
　　「紫藤……？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFphJzwkJDL
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxry4gCzDY
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjnynNWk6M
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISlQlQHMzU
　　「紫藤？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU90U3BTOzH
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe5dV7x9NV
　　那是聽起來令人舒服的聲音。就算被唸一整天也不會感到累吧。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyQQNgFmRb
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlDQd7BtaO
　　「紫藤！」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8RurmXdH3
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQY1Jb2LKI
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRg5rsWNEp
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzgwuihwKF
　　被紅姐在耳旁大聲一喊，紫藤才回過神來，再次動起掃把掃起前一個客人落下的頭髮。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zTIMsflf7
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy2gj23Alu
　　「妳今天是怎麼了？完全都在發呆喔。」紅姐用著那形狀漂亮的眼睛看著紫藤問，雖然說得嚴厲，但語氣比起責備、更多的是擔心。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ389RO7oZwi
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5Vcm0odSa
　　「……沒有。」紫藤故作正經地錯開視線，卻就連頭髮沒有掃到都沒有發現。

341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmAccUgVC5
　　紅姐嘆了口氣後，就叫住紫藤並把手背貼到了紫藤的額頭上。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cIJ448eJi
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHt4PrsFth
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyHN1hPl0F
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HVdVL8Hzd
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq7KF7lrwY
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ74mgnPZv3
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUdzdptS9L
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPaVgBg8fr
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIGpUafwsU
　　來到洗手台前，紫藤用力地搓著手、捧起水往自己的臉上潑去。但無論怎麼做，都還是洗不掉昨晚手上殘留的破碎觸感、與印在眼裡那張血肉模糊的臉孔。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGoeXOVPXG
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjbIvjwNTg
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxAtq0iYYy
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo5u1I6PPe
　　但，這就是自己所希望的道路。倘若連這點程度都會感到害怕，又有什麼資格去完成復仇？341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SzWv8C1AD
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAFVOn3fLp
　　沒有什麼是一開始就能夠習慣的。無論是什麼事都是如此。只要跟著杜若、慢慢地習慣後——341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQPj53cYM8
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Nu4ALFIxS
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjtuBmsmi3
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YEYo8vdQF
　　紫藤用指尖輕輕地碰了瀏海上的紫花髮夾，髮夾便就像是有生命力似地搖晃起來。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqsCEAdxJD
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　　連當初那被自己給嫌棄太大的髮夾，如今也顯得幼稚到有些滑稽了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdZRo5Vo4X
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6vNAzDwc8
　　而那天的相遇，正是使停滯的時間終於得以轉動的楔子。這副模樣、就是時間的齒輪正推移著的證明。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZHUl6gGR8
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　　不能再停滯不前了。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DPaAm0eGi
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHiqoWnUmc
　　自己正成長著。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gp4F8LIMJ
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　　紫藤這麼相信。341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkCnN49BH9
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