當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOklolpzsSf
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhSKYaT8CY
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamtcgTv9DA
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv43SAx4bK2
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsfAoYFMni
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tREz8yXjH
　　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：340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX8b1mrGgJ
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFCZLBPs9l
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjezdRxdCk
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3UDmUcHVd
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qel2yMTkT
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDkFoqe9P9
　　「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。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92xPdO2tFS
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliBndIdXLz

　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHJ9yOeqlM
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ESrSZS4Xs
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6rOJhgDca
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uGnldOuMv
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdcvIG4ehP
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6BIsbi5Dr
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoQD51qzJ5
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycv8T9HFXJ
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUetSMEUOd
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk6hqRx1lH
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ate9cMRwK
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWuqq6B1p9
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJrtGgWnEk
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSlIMofHEy
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AuktPjKPP
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxc9HQcvlh
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zjNeIX5l2
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i54J2Had6
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfW5vknf2U
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEE6G4itVX
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0x6uREmpQ
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX8mpaanIw
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp8JEGxQaw
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8k3IeXo7O
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuQEB7vgWv
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4O1bLa4Ul
　　「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。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLiuVlwgl8
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83zOOdnWL7
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxHjUhdKe0
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtijyjlZpEi
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh78jGteDg
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGBB80EI90
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnmL3Hie7m
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1GLrQWm8F
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd5Dj8H2oi
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aKFieoVZB
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAwWLH6Uxw
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D7liIIfVs
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1Rm4r0xmh
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLSmWMUOep
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dVgpX64Ao
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYOdmSF3Ar
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQErnBCi5k
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1MfzUbtSi
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYGyfimo8H
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNA46guphe
　　「嗯……好。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9j3VAm7xc
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4OH9qK9F0
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWOnFeoJNb
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgd7kDP8mR
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1QigaTDLn
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tkHgRZGaW
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yG3HFjSoW
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsEu8SLnDu
　　「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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC2bFB0Fya
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKiinkqEtD
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU7EIkxlrO
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSSmasEZKQ
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMX39ew1qi
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYbbkxahCC
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXRCoq8sxx
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsIHAUV9y6
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxH9hlsgCs
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxOJwBEvnO
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gnT3BM8x2
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkYDvqWuAo
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rfo14l1Lr
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36RKnG3oAc
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnZmWxavHQ
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjoNI1KLje
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPv6ARl7re
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhaYBKaSYa
　　「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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWkuFWS6b9
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFgR581Tz5
　　『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。』340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkGHizVP3K
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0yVmDHTcl
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k0zsNJb5X
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyeul8jhiR
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpltosgM0vK
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUgR9mDWBB
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUZ7ql3rhw
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ60gsm8Ch
　　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？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgJI0PqwYb
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mJ8DmlA7i
　　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？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZbh3lskAP
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC6PjQVzNM
　　「……我不知道啦。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01Bv12RPKm
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf5mZy14hp
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRBd64FSJp
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFotmKrK486
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6DNxz8qCg
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18jSlNF0E0
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvJftUNMQx
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV12jxAxO7r
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQOX4bePet
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6LfPqW2ed
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzUap8v0hI
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1q166RJ2I
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DjPuV8r3w
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAIzEYJ4Fc
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnttVeqIpu
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jpP0tochs
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmOESTR5P2
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExqgzfHf6a
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UcTPp3BTH
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tezNdM3zi
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT71DT0qrA
　　※340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxbBMEy3tw
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndNPdZdG8n
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAe66SkTDU
　　「紫藤……？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDOZWG1fVG
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYmaFo8ult
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ67qNS6gAM
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYhgi6lZgP
　　「紫藤？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxoLuv4GsG
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtaq6YsvBZ
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dv4S4lfC6
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBE5iUr1k8
　　「紫藤！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGHA5JCdQa
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjboxPfM9u
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fgOAppOpf
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv2Rx9k69Q
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOBpld5qqb
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvddvioOZK
　　「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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSv4oqhKd5
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwl6TkLel9
　　「……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。

340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAcDWYd4F4
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzVnvaqU7k
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tUK7KAyc6
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUOwWVsoIy
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwvlvVBlk4
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF4nmqFhXx
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNU8GGuupw
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw4jZ5YUfH
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaXl8vJg9x
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf1AJU0bR6
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwfxzNxWza
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhIdmrkp77
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54JV9nq93z
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHGC4rTjGi
　　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？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde93rtl3U5
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeXSix5RU2
　　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——340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSdcvcJqSN
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgWoZUilCj
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkVLi3cszd
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTKz9Ix0h9
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpb4mcefd7
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGCjAOGvBD
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgENuG48OR8
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIR8r3yU53
　　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。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrnUnyyAfP
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　　不能再停滯不前了。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukMJbnNbqm
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0j9NSXaOu
　　自己正成長著。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs7D0vzJus
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　　紫藤這麼相信。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKvecsn85v
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfvtJmWBqs