當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFFa61V78D
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg5c0L2yfE
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaSL0K6ebf
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgYpqZkmxz
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocFoEkqRVj
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5a92EW1a6
　　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：375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGemF35cRQl
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8RPaOewuX
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4lR7LLbJw
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTutJNQAFRR
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELLDzp9kCP
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoxrjLU5pF
　　「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。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn1WOn9Gd6
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1szDrMQyz

　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon8JVRB9jz
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CIkSesftY
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bVuLbMiWC
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Uq1SokepX
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFD3471peF
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ7deLGyYh
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7CePjXUA1
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zSRa8QVOY
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBbr91ynwY
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjJeJfkmBr
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LK5YVs1FQ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vb26cotGR
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChGsS23mdp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7RzuvA2r8
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfuDiWAAU5
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXNkNoZQ8x
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3owhfiSlv
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYuWZV1UEZ
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16QzKE8TkC
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFcfO6CgZg
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01S6aaqA3X
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkarE6yc1N
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBuJsnnmD9
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeYE2KKXRR
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BAIc3gK1R
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7e69CY9HW
　　「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。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TDEe7qVAW
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr1ouBAKHy
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKBx4uSysj
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwalyt7wcD5
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZU1vNqoxp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVy6imZ82j
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpBg6WXC37
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ylhKjEii
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH7jlYn7tG
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKVLpupsND
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGup20EalE
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi819Sw6uV
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwajXJycu9V
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajgYK1v3Bq
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yugMViAaQ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzseO1SGsi
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdnegXUf16
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwpOkTyFf8
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04LlGTopZH
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAjTLKD9pU
　　「嗯……好。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xWjmFkuzk
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0EEKait1e
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuapT2SfhPb
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f3SyPactx
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXZcSZziQu
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMoLCVODig
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06YrxQ8oUY
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPKdCMBBMw
　　「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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMyvqKAUk7
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHJsT3JMXZ
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5y9vBoNjr
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt7FAGqrTc
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhccFye8Odr
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGs3nuExpf
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LGP7FKhpw
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqE4ENKOh2
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrsuYrNFj8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLlHUXHc97
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaIYAM2UK8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uSlmCqQa7
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaT2Ic7Gre
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSptMw6M8wN
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQU5MVNUPj
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bTufkM8JW
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGCw97I44S
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtepbglfJWa
　　「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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbM7XiKyP7
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbS0bNdrFM
　　『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。』375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtkysPkErL
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa84YTVyLL
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rL818sy1L
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAIWJRs5Od
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4uiAtlixV
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGqfKrcIgj
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6C9O111mK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubxlFhiCkg
　　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？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12mmKPjYiU
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN4nbiRa88
　　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？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SHJza92jz
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6CpP9LeBg
　　「……我不知道啦。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m1IPen205
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIbmiR87qo
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwpYKspXP0
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp64fZeV8dw
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlh53SDS1E
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiTL8qvky2
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7A6qQA5tR
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQc68vl2N7
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJRowA3xI4
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReVEVhfNml
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDQiUmTVlp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTjB5813Tn
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJecZY6R2k
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4JOPliNFo
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgB29GrI3H
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgnsULgnzV
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbitGnX2QN2
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K9qwADCXd
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wlKPA1Rru
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmeyniddZt
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls7wMvtJNi
　　※375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Idc7y59gC
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxv6Wp6KYi
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf4zUA37fU
　　「紫藤……？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvodDSz8Uhp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0OICrdPMK
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYNSX6uyDM
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet6ijf9qeM
　　「紫藤？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZQElQSMDI
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxfXMFT2FK
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2RZDKaAOW
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdwqVcMfhF
　　「紫藤！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxU3tkS8hN
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKZRuPPcnU
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlS2vJk3Eb
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1wcPyYUlG
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiIJNmmXeK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N4Ay8JPCS
　　「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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn7SpEO2wX
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5DE7Eh74j
　　「……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。

375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQVZW0VbWz
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KHqfkG3yo
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK8p1z6M3t
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzePMQuIrr
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUipnOPdijr
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvoH8djm1x
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4aUxHpZ8i
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMCWZnXfen
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyajP57Vez
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTDTuMQicr
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeNEPR3BjD
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmy2aeb4Ws
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNaZH62RVy
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxE2DtspUG
　　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？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqkpMRCaQ3
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6s0v9sHhg
　　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——375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeCU02hf4d
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWANLC5rbH
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ5zV0AEt0
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugrdYs43tv
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi39a2gfrlp
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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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAzUq960JC
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　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSgritqyTF
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　　不能再停滯不前了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZJF3geOSI
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　　自己正成長著。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0OxDymOcg
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　　紫藤這麼相信。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp2tAdkfJd
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