當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54o5mPJJyU
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR6yqLnMJV
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGbZgHntLW
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPKh45K2zM
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBNmBUfNSb
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEVXavGU00
　　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：351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2W6meEnVf
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnltcVewFr
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz9oeWNeXU
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TABAIwshy
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEetX6Gv9F
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNjA6nJBDT
　　「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。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUgynufW9G
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86wNZZabgX

　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWmKSJhjgp
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkDsQn1utr
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrooNVrh5wf
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZHTtwFKyy
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHAz3dsLdE
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHCULuTI6y
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5mXswBiiI
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeWQhl7OUE
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvXjvonbaZ
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbHhnSRL9Z
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk5IVs3ZS7
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxUrzFgASY
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVM5NYDkFr
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jaPguILIX
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeQSKMRrIW
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfADzgn4Vv
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeczCpdQ6D
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBaRJ9Ckv1
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDXhpAQ2O5
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59pfWpW9us
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuGCrctmFE
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXAurIg0zO
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi4Dh8clZV
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeIIufJJ34
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneeUhu82K8
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCYQPwmirZ
　　「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。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjJhuZbPdp
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHNeq66VHV
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ErKMccp8M
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf8oW41WrT
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L1bC3k1tW
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XH7Y1cn7Q
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasaxTUgIJ1
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCXE2iv6qA
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRUawh1jC7
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAf5ziAShj
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFySm29cGU
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotX1ME4IZe
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB4truz1gz
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFBGUsXAPv
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHECeyr2hC
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeWSasByHH
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXiuEkPlJv
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2QoCvRNcQ
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqcC8gaO0s
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv6FsJXEPi
　　「嗯……好。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SdKTgG18Z
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr09hYEOA1
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLN6fr7Bhk
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncg77WOAxn
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyQrkmMqMu
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXqfcep729
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGornex15H
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1ODmZcxa7
　　「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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdDPjwF4rf
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CCVBz3aS2
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTNbHboLo0
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4EOFDroRl
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu70CZAwOa
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ515MOQWm1M
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kjWhnRrCK
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZTLWbPn8a
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwZIIM36tm
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjczp3Gmm9
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gP491FCWp
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YwFoRRLUS
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXYxJwtmJl
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwhATZXa6H
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3KvOnMvZ1
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw7TekEq7G
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPF1jpeoea
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvBusJ1Zga
　　「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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kioMzt2uS
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoESIp8RIim
　　『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。』351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfeYbfnVmI
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFIbKiNHoo
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q1pgLMV6T
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vzEVhKXml
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq2321cryv
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULRfrkHE0f
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vlgJ0khBQ
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUQAoR2sfC
　　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？351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ873HFRdExm
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBVDX6Fbgu
　　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？351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaas0VEdnN
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG7nKoSwva
　　「……我不知道啦。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01cuouZY7k
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Z6dbWKsa
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmz6Zhitsc
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtMHQuttSt
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Aeyf014ro
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ps9RMABd8
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ6SE0pibn
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki0I5GLqtW
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuVFv3cqiU
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim1u4QlMLa
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcIs1cFciS
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUqNfWBfZ5
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJX44gbdmj
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkFGNs06JJ
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmPppDaZT
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh47KTKtk08
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcylZ159wpw
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzGqYSmQOi
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE7OyVkV3T
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpa5eDQ6li
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlO0KEJoxS
　　※351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydsl5wUBxX
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFatJ8IxAY
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDZUgepLQJ
　　「紫藤……？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ0QH5tqqN
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRa4s9FfCM
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfx0NkCgEs
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KMujQSPpR
　　「紫藤？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJOOAzK946
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3croiatAu5
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR60aNMfHW
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1ZmhXEmbc
　　「紫藤！」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol5LJ2Vd8n
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcmOAKsACP
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Evtbmy0wN
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCshnCnae4E
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBJCQH4dTw
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrhclbVFzf
　　「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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5yVQ8kwfu
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSQVTEj2XX
　　「……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。

351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3WYN1pwqD
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc84DJJmFI
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCO9m3BYJf
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN9tzCHLrH
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAig93iZ0pw
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3hVkU7yO5
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIEVOqn6IP
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GYr29Z0jG
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmRqNkWKOl
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm9cQmZySM
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD2vQIhfW6
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8InBuKrHx
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLL485F5oI
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IuoIqAhUh
　　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？351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN4LCYsjcP
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcDHYI3Esy
　　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——351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0LBWRG6j5
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmhUj0w2bb
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAcpU37xfe
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxs4ylNtcI
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQiOKPvkE4
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGIeUY4EPm
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU4GqGLU0y
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfolzIHmV4f
　　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。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHp3qSBu4e
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd26mMJVuQS
　　不能再停滯不前了。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TdyfLvIgN
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SiojwMDr2
　　自己正成長著。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvTdZUgoHj
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4dnLGCguI
　　紫藤這麼相信。351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjaUaumnUj
351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ysWpxKHl1