當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dKSAPUGSg
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE1igpx0wx
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I48VBc440
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvKSTAlzeZ
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3SX1Vcy90
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXmDSFZoEW
　　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：343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmJWItPiGS
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bbC31CYRH
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVntOjsdhN
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRd6ug1d1oh
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUUz5QUNic
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uPH541WGw
　　「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。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPDb9YHsqT
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfSmTkc2du

　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwunVUSFgFz
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNW1CE2dBz
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3xuSPJEAH
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nf8mvWUm9
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N6RwDjgid
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd48t44JUy
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVIGaEdM9e
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1ptBujRv9
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxFN34MUBE
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZAQ4WEFel
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xZ2hkvD6K
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMc3vOFw5I
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ygbiToN4u
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGKFZVDdDL
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhusIJDf6FX
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7EmAg2EIM
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLWIYSJcYx
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i0fIxpVMB
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IAmN2o82Q
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VAigmy3cZ
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SGUE9mbnJ
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDFFM2iCr5
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0PjFUV54u
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqyJ64do8c
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX3qJU2ot3
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkvqTHCQpH
　　「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。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqIdhUkwne
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM8q7wwRqO
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfCqSk0IOz
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYsda7NdMw
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIbfbJt9Ni
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2utD9QV64E
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WIeBg0B8H
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIevIgaqAmZ
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiHwoXIhYI
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgub0SEgjT
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTktjb5QIjX
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaDKUfegYz
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fD3Si6TKx
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xcScB4UiI
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP9urFSsca
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwUqN3Rg0L
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0vUSLtTG6
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE8PZxczrR
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UmaBp3oDl
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP3c8t9y2x
　　「嗯……好。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlppkdTT1Cc
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGacsLXMdz
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchDTlAKzkf
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyysSgvnAv7
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBoqgPtEIJ
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsstF7cwvI
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg6QkfOfsS
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt0kxirIN4
　　「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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5zMM8W5ES
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb0bdBYZZh
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2do7rqvzPk
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5QvZz1Bdy
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTFAyY1ykO
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqDkCeKKA5
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHFMuNLhjs
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2BmHxHuYM
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xMzwlmCnu
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hYFybg7BS
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH0AJbhXS7
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kFGjoymSv
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdOI22I7gC
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXDRH6fbWD
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76hQtqVJOW
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXTeR3ZWqM
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0zclmksxL
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0sHMqlJVH
　　「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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv0g07xYhX
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4rgeJdbXR
　　『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。』343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4Q9CWMRjy
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR3JEiLCBj
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgyzyzEwpV
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRilwsbRWjh
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oiGqrap0Q
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YMT5vM4cx
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiC7tHnif2
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbKyif3Gy4
　　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？343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLlcNJ6zdW
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYuQceOeLE
　　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？343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyaNSQgvxi
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxLdNSo4jR
　　「……我不知道啦。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0ra1VbjPr
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn2DE0DlqE
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrUcI0BZBL
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i2TowrPNF
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAP2t7biJG
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPoCsb8KyL
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN7k3vy9jQ
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjdaMZjExI
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsjCQXcyKo
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO6QJIlDJP
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8hXO2rtZC
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCgGrwMVIB
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9G91C1zXk
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UHJNOneJQ
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRJTO04QMg
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRlY3czoWc
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0As0KB6FH
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4igZfki0we
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7Qz9k2o6Z
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzORuz0F35
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi8kjEsC3E
　　※343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMRYzPhp8O
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaZrZyUjWk
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmteJWct6u
　　「紫藤……？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2g2TNDsCE
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPrU1aznYA
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTGgOiNcjw
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLmnDyKAch
　　「紫藤？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0ki3QDOv7
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy2IuxCYZb
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIccmeSSgD
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQR32jqFBF
　　「紫藤！」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37TbYy43z8
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ223kxmrtW8
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnmvWuEeAM
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgw8eoYsR2
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxGQSMj6Ge
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVN8Rs9lUQ
　　「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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepBIfPTLYr
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjdRMUyHYm
　　「……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。

343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXMHoyQuEn
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM6mhGntVK
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilSZJgfPQh
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGguXqUGjj
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TWKCbaUgK
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfev6EobFCB
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXrCQVpnSX
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVZ0xzIxS8
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjeAQbFnaL
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhicRAT7zqy
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjOgD47O79
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5Ue0RktzB
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWLHZyENwa
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK3e51qCWc
　　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？343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKpU1brttV
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr0l9ilb5k
　　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——343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJUxHilZ97
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5PKXfhSrJ
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9Dkx5iVX8
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWAhyeRA93
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEUoO3uaTf
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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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCJf5XVgIf
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA88DkcZaFw
　　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。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WsGZ0qILs
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXqQiHAyOB
　　不能再停滯不前了。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdhgkjXE8R
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGS31DsojQ
　　自己正成長著。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRdCoX9his
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtqW64IISe
　　紫藤這麼相信。343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuggtlbkSK
343Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfderQkUq1v