當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYcrjR44W7
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbmvwI6394
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdAc8GddHl
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DEchUkvq3
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFpot3iQXd
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQZeGVlQuh
　　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：377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv92rcxXrpw
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UIt7Nm9HE
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHdhOx2Ii3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRFKv2o4ab
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkysKv2LYi
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDb1xrgeOd
　　「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。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBBZO16ln3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT81d6VFyEq

　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsdTew7Qgl
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhppgjQNfAH
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQYY0qkoN4
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S61qgS62I
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKkGOE4sQy
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6MWkbKoJw
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO5H9vnreS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNEq92M1Bq
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbYGERNuJZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxkmnzzSKM
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzak87O6ZEl
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwAyx5gYst
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXMlphsnsp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOAK6K6WPD
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQg6lBv8b3Q
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO8JS9GgQc
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAkdQaq6UF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI6VQQ5iZ2
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHALIqlfasU
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU3h4LrKWX
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCtROWdbEu
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbGl1ZUG9a
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs2XhhONZG
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG5bjfezHv
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVCv6ZWmqW
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrSfUgWclo
　　「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。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtirBam6pre
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdegbA7Sjq
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqBpJV9BDW
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOZeERHaBk
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTHtwkhVcB
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVCksAQFsE
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAjd9wNUUQ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPZeeTnIS0
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJGTU74Rvu
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzdlo3lTZB
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡratiCjhHRZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcirrtAjeSI
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw5iCA0IcC
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieWdrC9vgK
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jh8Tbbw8D
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAMOCbRI7g
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchHwU8qyWv
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShStbYOGhq
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIOK1d5Xwm
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoptVYOEQvF
　　「嗯……好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjGw4c5CFo
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3YMMoa0Oo
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcx9ucvwPa
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAjMnlScWW
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1EgazN9KH
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBiF9N6Ir4
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16wjdrX2JW
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmkl7Zq7Jf
　　「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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VmkAMOwUP
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwnggafVKD
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuWO4mwufq
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWOfv51Tg3
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupXAlnH9Hp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKdaTazHSa
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkHBmVlaGK
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbLin7vNuf
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv4DB7i2Cn
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OUVZV79wA
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRcc1ne9LY
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN5KwXhiRM
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKhFa5K6H1
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqm4DYcDiV
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5bO3pcfGS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1MXGwvymi
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthdWWUZdtB
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QBF4JJmSG
　　「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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsUkdzmdwe
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLTcw6USND
　　『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。』377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51FPsaQ9Sn
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpzIlyGVwc
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjfcXZoEU3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkSoCnKPqr
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVAYEqb22T
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYDZ2tCCCR
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTby5cHGg3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C56IYbNtj
　　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？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1gJVrQJcb
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a6iKriA54
　　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？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJIoLsuLjT
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPbmpSJLP7
　　「……我不知道啦。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7moIZdeoD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxovrHRu1oj
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC9uctKQ73
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjjccN9fFJ
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQXYQgEcas
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1azjlEftfI
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxyUUopCR6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY0uERRczT
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnQE8AIAoV
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmAV0j4kMy
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR5JNpshUF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTHPg2N4k3
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z5Af4fcwu
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwxEzXnaAc
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuq6vJ8SZS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNGhNBe6cI
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWkfbwmZVR
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2UP9l5fW1
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cFi2LMODb
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq1CHRBIWo
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrskt4AiGbI
　　※377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvIJ9aYlZo
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eLx5ddZzp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHO2xBK7bR
　　「紫藤……？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifLgFnbD7u
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ7NEBGZPQ
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdyMSjJBuv
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcvxNryHNs
　　「紫藤？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPvPPOV9U6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO5vxrCNl0
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpJsxnp14m
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv9ASP6Nyq
　　「紫藤！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZniUTbUvr
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRY9WqLuQb
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA4tGPrP2p
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ka4hh28qK
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjwCeiFFq7
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC3ORjVp3K
　　「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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDESyQ7K66e
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SAwKcXH4R
　　「……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。

377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPSwVNp8LR
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieW3zPUfjb
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAwh2vTO81
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTelXRv2fwn
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwBdfilVSh
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl16fmyZOAR
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEYlXQJw7F
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87kmmXe7v6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfUvMeyh4k
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaodKXKYVv
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZGrxzn7VM
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKeVlRBeXg
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dQhxII6DY
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLy85lg1xu
　　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？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3p0yQMgpg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp5sFIk2tD
　　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——377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FffwQlNIK
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWjsGULw0i
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HyIS2WPk4
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wAeKRATnn
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz6PBekS8w
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsVdUdqOtb
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasOtrC3JZD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79QxT7eJ4J
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVitcatg7CU
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNklLPZp66
　　不能再停滯不前了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEjwkLolT3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm92BNt69q
　　自己正成長著。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO3fKzRQ5Z
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0ejrjW7FS
　　紫藤這麼相信。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEU4H7C3VM
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4KjL26Wu1