當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hqTpZzhvO
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaryubmQlq
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgsNVNYVsu
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUajJEgqZcd
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpujolaeAut
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrPySa3tim
　　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：381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IcmOMf6s8
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MXIFerXgL
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPq2BHlHlH
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnEFMHp4zj
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlxbO3engY
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXCRVAlDuS
　　「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。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGTbJEL6d7
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DE1IMjNTY

　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA40BsQEth
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0trdZ3wYHY
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyzGltWduh
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nql5LhSV0
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VerUAZEAi
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv71uEgEZfC
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5L4dEKeEe
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEMYW6pZrx
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34RSJopT2y
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO6Z1pesQR
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7llmP3p4Vs
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGybQSqFaM
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55wIJYsLJx
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSzVVzMGlP
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V4KPBxyZX
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntkTcW6xAK
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpffvrWo7Nl
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y3PwB6YJ1
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOCxmyU34Q
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn7HWV1zPS
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEnMeqwu5e
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqCCQGAiz4
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd1Wp2COcj
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3mzdPg9zl
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMzLXn1DQL
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhqPWNDtq4
　　「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。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGv8gjHivO
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGvx9z0OUm
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KCBM6jCDp
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMzYJCAeZM
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY4K9MYv4A
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUjTQAmWbc
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2uRsefN5m
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThDYNhmQui
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqrMOIqUYV
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI0Nb5FxrS
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF93Eg1a85r
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtbuNc8vrU
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz2Rag8M0n
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3DdefIP6K
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRfR6zApeL
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVRDBs8Gjk
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnROKGFOYT
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UAB2GXjCL
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhvIaf2llo
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPGZ7TnbQO
　　「嗯……好。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZWaEP86fa
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LZZEBywkC
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE5PXLvu7Z
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuSMOH7kAE
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm3UCOmHoi
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU7QCtKC8l
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIXH5stNG4
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OVj65CnVN
　　「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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM8gyGrizP
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFBQ73CJOG
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXBWdUXtf8
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfor4q1Fw1
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdtAwwtkaU
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WvAbJLHNv
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5bX7oVsj1
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmhPy1Dk0H
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES9UhFNHEH
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kc56RB3om
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYvfyBaXBe
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAtwKCdxFk
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF96z6UlcDz
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx7BY6ibNv
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4mfmXGyRs
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDt98XaG8y
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocO4tNdbAc
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr94qGom78B
　　「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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhmvEAAnhs
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4FjnLfV9p
　　『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。』381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d7eaw7Ruy
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpBYMWdKDQ
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhf9CGEx44
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooclrtSkQM
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7AIguPTHS
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhNFAhVEAb
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcfqekQFy0
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oxGN9RItc
　　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？381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtwZ8b8naf
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv25outhNca
　　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？381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirh3vH1ney
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiIkonY4N5
　　「……我不知道啦。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZpyHAk6je
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuAOH3JYC8
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m6loB7xpr
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGWQSjJLRm
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb6EBsz6iV
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EVnb6xWxA
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIi6zxmfF2
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOZ01JXZh1
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj12EvVMQ8F
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2GaLIVSEx
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN7EK5DNN7
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijzul0Uytq
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6uwTaSWVr
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvTb9MwzBH
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlf2EjCXsN
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGR1Vlh1hX
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gh7OO7MjI
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtgTbswXcZ
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvAoyN5jVf
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sg7EoyVoV
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsPGDgkoVG
　　※381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjd1IEfcUD
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEElyJSkMgf
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrSbz76V6o
　　「紫藤……？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8vLlPO64O
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXYWX8m5Ny
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPqDBLO25l
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWnsxLo64P
　　「紫藤？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMogMIGh1Q
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKgj9c2QEt
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtWRU0fWmE
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHiSf3jL28
　　「紫藤！」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR619LoFFdg
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3D9QZ1FBF
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1CYHck08L
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCITm1m0obr
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdegMn3VTGT
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuwgmNDOmE
　　「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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsU42Tp4lL
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSFTR16uJy
　　「……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。

381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9joMeIoBLO
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IhKyT7pNF
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fvpKtze75
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUJR3p6kl6
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf7GxkC3Ms
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxqq59oXRy
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtHYPOn5PX
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy4BtewZed
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1F0TIPBYH
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoZx820S16
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08MFAelMqQ
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVPHzEp2bI
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3VE3Cs8t3
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56FqCbLEWm
　　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？381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBynF01D2xU
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO4QK0V5Sj
　　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——381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygAAtNVjjb
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A3145GWmJ
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIucu9lzxxL
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85rpvHpNOF
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDEjgu3FkY
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBxDFXNNTN
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiktX42t0i
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgfZEta3Q8
　　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。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNmbXqeRU7
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWluobpt1U
　　不能再停滯不前了。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO2SsoacG5
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir9of3lWmu
　　自己正成長著。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GreNnf6aA
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9HzFch8XW
　　紫藤這麼相信。381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Gu8uamaf
381Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4m8qLpplC