當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDhqHYPrJZ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEd8Y8Iv33
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh32ACrK8Q
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4vbdLlIIJ
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1c9iCRLfW
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ5eXkAIkT
　　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：342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXvEStWVD2
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDpf0uWc3j
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XxYW7crn1
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eMqH4QXZa
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf8ASzxuTO
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sSFNwOEjI
　　「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。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0aE6Bm0Rv
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHHFwJrty6

　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C6lUQ6UDr
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JJuN8NNxf
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH600ztsGfS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamuio6hCVX
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD7RF2YODf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4GatZbq5W
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucw1Lfc2LE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYz7PIPpMw
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJatMtT4trT
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfoyHZJxEM
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdWTdSvDkR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi93J2JLk9O
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOjgONUjrL
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWbOLh7BO0
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwoqlT8FJ6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xPz5kqRnm
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlW0lh4Jvw
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7YVrDVimR
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hCZoOvAgU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3cjLD92uK
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfehTH3lOsd
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaGuBygY9L
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyKMnFFZAp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvsLsCngFI
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFG20fI4sE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E4bhUGiwU
　　「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。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TKPSzGYjH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkqkLI5QpJ
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbffJWcKLlI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qgoOYgc4i
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaT3J8my7t
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkhokS0kpX
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kBveL3Zhs
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBdYkLFF3q
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS0rWBTK1V
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fYV5YxEDb
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52opBYkW4V
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NifjsYFFF
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yNAjjtDLY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZzfSuVlxa
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYpFlO4l9l
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuiDiTnJfX
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKRaFMhR7h
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXPvsgb2Rg
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRb5Y8aP8P
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLBLthIxOa
　　「嗯……好。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyWWILuWsX
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5UdXjmT9U
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL75axlUgct
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesqPr5yO97
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dBwr91S1m
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S2RkNzNX3
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwLcRIQKqx
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEG9O0JwXN
　　「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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg38LUszeoO
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kWxY8WFK2
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzbMzICM7x
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZzgHLLG7t
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe8JvGxiSG
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsStbkFcx7
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nBM0JIKwR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKWYcZcSAP
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVfY7GbFAq
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79yZMaTzhq
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX8rOh9dGG
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhzNIue64V
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99MIUL695C
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOxtjRgVeZ
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCK78iTjco
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1RkoQ2QDf
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPOvPq8EFs
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZVUka1YJ5
　　「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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2nVZ64d4l
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaI1LIKe0D
　　『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。』342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5EaHJ5fQ6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu61hjCjnSr
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXbeG34wH4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ6dEFzfhI
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN2RcSlGk0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVD4szlLZ8
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8UDjD3oND
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJtCHkTXPI
　　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？342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfp4Vak7vU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwDAn8AuVl
　　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？342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkecziFXsQN
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdJDl5IIpj
　　「……我不知道啦。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn9r40A8iL
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjmBHyjDwN
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPLvBptmCy
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEs3ujzvIM
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkukIDkX1AH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtanVtSB1pB
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOGlZUH5Ql
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOrMhNCRzp
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVND4qdhYkn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5COnw1Pmaa
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZROLSB8ui
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEgWgUOH7M
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1llH0uHML
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0Z6Im4xw7
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOyG1G6Gna
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanRnY5qaFp
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mPRwMRt3j
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChn6uRByj7
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbylBqzsqy
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI4jbDjtSK
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYy7Rkhj0i
　　※342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72XxPc9ZGS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqWEb3i2FC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZPzOLw6Zm
　　「紫藤……？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhSkmbFto0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFw0rstd23
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnj3AEOkQN
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDEbv5v6Yj
　　「紫藤？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF7LJAfUFl
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP8iBnTmBu
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAyDn4rubn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBUIYIpklN
　　「紫藤！」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqemqjcrq0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GnWDB60ht
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb5O5wu2dN
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVaBj2r9i5
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HNzOXrRdA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfY4vYKrea
　　「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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2JDBOAadH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxREcpv4UoP
　　「……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。

342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncSGDl7OjG
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jjlKt8bpt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLycGixPfv
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgv577ZDqD
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNp6woMVLt
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxULux4pZtq
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAgibnHUDQ
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM91i96Y9a4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrMfEV1si6
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R4kHkfBAy
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQgocfSHmU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrZS8xfUoj
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaQEWBwaY9
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH2L0VtDut
　　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？342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOmSMbrS0z
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9DSRjKzvf
　　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——342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSV6QpQxgT
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4cLfqqH0z
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROuuqX8Zlx
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTEBvUGqiu
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNBOPwBOhS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNMYbQSmIn
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgVjBP65CY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVNbQozQkN
　　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。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11rkEe2vHV
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXNuYcfMOf
　　不能再停滯不前了。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3vr4CquAb
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JUtvWe9LN
　　自己正成長著。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtnLRWHrYp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDECidwbptO
　　紫藤這麼相信。342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pV38Qqkwv
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDYAMdIibK