當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB1QpVQT0S
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTm3PpPjjG
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4qDLS0iWa
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpLVRT8Ga7
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr2E0Lo36n
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wGu4n8wyj
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUWrJUduE6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXhSGacGmC
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTTWe4zRnp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIWH8xu1h2
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMi2kTq3gj
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMRnflL34n
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSzmrPU2Og
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYdYeNbRUb

　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUolmHfFWws
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYttjtuBo8G
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UcFQX2PKe
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cU3I1WeAW
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwdvBx0JFS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxe92JLku8
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDPZZyfAe0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadxIQfbugI
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg1xAyCYHF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSzTDSasBb
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9AAJoH3ou
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFApJRpcVk
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhGbIj1sVv
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUTihUEUxF
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyLhTnJ6e9
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0khh4vmuG
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaX8cusAxq
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWweCK3hJo
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel2OOwIPU0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHipkyXNkde
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENQNMy6oXZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7ZHxdwFk3
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK46dsrHrn7
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T3fEPsQwy
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFjGeA9BU4
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreHqt39ykj
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB3CRxGPcu
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD15CMRDBN
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqGPXgyokf
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh3jium18R
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbMhlC2r8g
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Oz9svU4j
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwZVG4kDsS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMXomwcJrF
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLglRY9wvK6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYA6S9MpX4
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ixu20NzBh
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7qI6wTLbC
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenUJkZpokT
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvtdzS1915
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C7gzRgNy0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kbfKM6tqB
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3gQBkIWSe
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6vEyTW9gw
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahVtGNyDyp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9CgfpKada
　　「嗯……好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqiEq4a3Q5
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpXZTLw7Rk
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP3iqQcZfs
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli874PVd6q
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH85yklAFk
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxkNNaX0Rl
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOYhLgyXBZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVlMwCgDtG
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7zSjypl6b
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpKNgzaVmT
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpx1swnULA
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl1sRcRXik
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ybc9o3FuV
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxAHUGteE4
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UQpkqke4Q
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLXetHQ4Uc
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH387sOnH4K
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxRioN9Ocy
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtvJtAqA7c
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yYQbVDfsB
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydCdb4oAuz
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoUZTCAubc
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PFqDwQXGH
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLH5bv20wd
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmMguXNufc
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHlxjxoVRg
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DmwJERbK6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbhYvp0mnb
　　『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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZJ2bcXYU0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrFem1QyF3
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgGolWA1Qg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj2Cdj7moh
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmh4TSek1A
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhyTR0MkER
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRoWWbcuoO
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hqL8bloEe
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgNrrAV8xd
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsNdsozShP
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuBUJnfPmF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8h2pKa3x2
　　「……我不知道啦。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VitwcC0K3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhhkl72VKS
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGOrgvsN2M
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg3blU685W
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cxIIx5Fh3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpcbbRCXzS
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOrJX2qnyF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07mPekgDnV
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunQuqcVDB6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24h1k1KFsA
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoQi9X4PGF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYqjgVQaEt
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto8CYrUPcG
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXaLRiOirb
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7IXAFPDTC
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJrPSMtJnI
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFQlLm9wez
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUuLt5FyAp
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiaEwG01BD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ETg5aWapm
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOlFsScVZp
　　※377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7UGOQdLX6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI8hzfAAJv
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOmOMJnCJ5
　　「紫藤……？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMvgRUxFa1
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs4lMtMYWY
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtvW6ihi22
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHb1GhO4KK
　　「紫藤？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wL3g0PO77
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjSBmTndFV
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlarXPpbRy
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4NRpvGAbE
　　「紫藤！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVyrKn2eG4
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf7DFTedXL
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NDEBc6Oyg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pv3OixTjh
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy3VlwV9M6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbo47NOuAj
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxNlyV7AAN
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlm1NvtFA3
　　「……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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZglX8ABUgR
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi25Bob6Gm5
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8tvhCucLv
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx4MkqwMIp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdNx6KaYqN
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8inQV4H6eP
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv0Sa9cmzE
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt80aaWXAq
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jIao3hYPA
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi3gNj8nhN
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiqnNfeHzG
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYf6FgTmiU
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoTZNnwOPD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h0AVjLuIp
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzJQrDOfit
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO439WuSEI4
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrucQcxmSnQ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcJhfYwQYr
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNhPSeqDs4
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruF0awmaG4
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncxEbjL4EJ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWroIgSYvAF
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtuHWfbq4l
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULNfUCvFrA
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cpkcMIeiB
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuPCMMgLyd
　　不能再停滯不前了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIm8TfRryg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvmiGXShdZ
　　自己正成長著。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwpDe4Qyno
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6noF4Hqyx
　　紫藤這麼相信。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5gcOHzxrO
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4iwmgHzoS