當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjjysWubZH
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZTaJQ0fQm
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIlh1G0Ikw
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfg5RLZqE8
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cJYYMudmS
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCuaMjtqqR
　　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：499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2jI2yWSSN
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtJ3hd7Cmc
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gyDBBH8YG
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfSt6d1uKU
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6Y44d2sVT
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgHOW1Jktn
　　「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。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZgHZdbVle
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXejt0ZGNdM

　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL27FO3NLTo
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2ZZMvxw4S
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqvtFZgQPC
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0LlJyzG0e
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOTfgfVwCD
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsbmjaFlbb
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sC1Z1Fe4N
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeIgRvGKKg
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORY2R7gZlh
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWmY0ck8xj
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg4PowvkLB
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIYnbEM6ym
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeW377U3PM
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOJJcfalzL
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3sJgXmrEv
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMekdPxmHdP
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP907SSasbj
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnmQHqqd2f
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGEbXBX6hH
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VwTCoi4vu
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1oZKvKBNJ
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7PamLY7C4
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs73bAeWY1g
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjSs2fAAlC
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlJJIlqQRo
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdXV9CUMSK
　　「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。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh8Apfof5Y
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJBzwhQFPL
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhGOJPN1ID
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUSQhN5fBT
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKobRLb2jOK
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbR8vBruBm
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR56QMPQdQX
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w3u1Cxesd
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCccIjFLZWt
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA19kDeMlb
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN96sucTKwM
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS55neQmig0
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIP6Ur84vZ
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5WDdG01tx
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlRbNeDl0f
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCPdAQmYtv
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq1NagEEfD
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9xoMa0YFI
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W0xkYU993
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqJjqW4wth
　　「嗯……好。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiIJNGxZTg
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIv9FXxx9y
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAXhbfxYjk
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1RM0cHFXm
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SXiZUEIhS
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqBuoDjmKH
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd84IsLcWD
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAygXfcaHmK
　　「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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jYi0vB20Z
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kuzziplwR
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldYSELcDco
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGwyNglNTI
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVlREObW0t
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag5NRE0SYF
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzY3UEW9Ci
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVk7rhNplM
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF6rkP3J9A
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGc5m3WKEN
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVU8YUY9UD
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQtv3qrsMh
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mbSXh6Qt1
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR2PEXEkuz
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMVltpUlMT
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEWduIZuGF
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y8QBV1nVi
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvXJgbUyIz
　　「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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMYAcxvTqu
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0tjKy3VRy
　　『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。』499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYErkCESsa
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSxb4iHji5
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjXK6bV5QT
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGM7J8QDwo
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEPKRb2pC0
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCLPTrDytT
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAboSlvfDH
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV7fox3rXG
　　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？499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvEcsW5UlA
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubw23K6cdo
　　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？499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0LQOB8BAw
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5KmralYiE
　　「……我不知道啦。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrSlLFvVDg
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LRVhDlrzX
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs7R3ttyrk
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50BpQ2b3GR
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhjTLQ54IU
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWLFsT6byR
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbYKyN0XYv
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBSNPRSOnT
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e1z8Lrl5X
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXokzSSlval
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZLDptrm2O
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi00Lvl3zS
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCyjdx5VFr
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FaBDmxGQQ
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsv0uwZ8tK
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DXxAp91pf
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqmB9kDH7q
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kPDHelZwM
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn3PKsxi8Q
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk1O1LXb5E
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVz1HeFeqh
　　※499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTCm9vDcHM
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gd17nkKtu
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTufMWHbVo1
　　「紫藤……？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiMzU4EX1V
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqgLAH1IzY
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV7FT6TU2P
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUtIAFDUul
　　「紫藤？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAnHc7su11
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9CCHwVvbr
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCWEeTsJqL
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2MKC13BcA
　　「紫藤！」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKWtJj2LuX
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUFhX79IwC
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyiYF9rZcA
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUgLcZy39z
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TcvUaBU2L
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeW1Ef07Kh
　　「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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GWVXZZaz5
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HHELnecxl
　　「……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。

499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2N03G1wQx
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzv0lteqyu
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpGt0TLqVA
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYhKYgBrp4
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg1OVazm9h
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4Kab4Iw0H
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrIlE1QxTB
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEWzNbZbqe
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTh4CAJ5Eq
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CfRtk3zlx
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXW4rQxkyF
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PEvkfFxA3
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi55ShBmgwv
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NJa4YaaNp
　　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？499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D0vRCzXmE
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz5P8F0or0
　　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——499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDNYcFqHi8
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fcC9OcgTv
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGW4REa073
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEINhwqc80P
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZJ0f7U46k
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybTW9z8vI5
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyWJZHp4Ef
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8wXsoJfID
　　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。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y62KgizBf
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8fx6mFDB8
　　不能再停滯不前了。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kI7fr290N
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN7Zg8EKUi
　　自己正成長著。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KAeKDdf3f
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdciQsSIDq
　　紫藤這麼相信。499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmLtpWsU1x
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOpBOFFedE