當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTPbxB5CfT
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdBmYxeFlF
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDws916if1
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxFTVGiSqC
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZQ87MONu2
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnqUN3VgCW
　　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：310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fOdfpVRmE
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8NrMisjgI
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygBxwwZ98s
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM1kSdQwRN
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHKGv0dQz0
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflSo7p8Qvv
　　「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。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9terK3xzFm
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFMSbe07Yx

　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mHa2OIuRl
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMON0AV64JT
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoheeaLVE4
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8Q9PxRKy9
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJYOTXEd8d
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjHJhlvu3N
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eC6EldDpz
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqo37OBQdm
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc34bF7Hzj
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPc1TDTaPg
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYl5DHuKIn
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQYXWdOP9r
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z9msJqYaR
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zb8SgwEo0
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WrdDIEAq0
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BPf5AvmwJ
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyhhMAiFgW
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzRr88fVje
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb6LkDWnDO
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26dGcNUTbZ
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYWDXBNv1V
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeXFDEbhGX
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G3AqEIp7t
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnAJaiH834
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1N2SecOXj
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIozO79EP3
　　「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。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw8oShDkKr
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXtycTxCa4
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCpMsnDjym
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynxndgcfDj
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhMKDIngFc
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DFfFBbTqZ
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbORPYTyEDz
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpqgZbom9A
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1ohjsbLLl
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtBv6ypZz9
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8tU2q5HYD
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejT0Uc8qGX
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTcochfgUJ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyQm7qehrC
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JsR4iZur8
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINgIgF4LsU
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxx7lXzO95
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1sWgieSWg
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWK1OYVmQW
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI88BBVoPr
　　「嗯……好。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYbHeaoFZj
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDhq0bz1ya
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTHmN843jq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7G2HcN9wE
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hKMVJ311R
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUcsKMPoaO
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLZBs4Mp7d
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzTTrKYhdT
　　「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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLIk9PI8jb
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rQF7vnzoB
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex4cEZEbS5
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGTkJKQPHO
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8juwIgHAbm
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmS5DLPnAY
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBbd6R0UcA
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLuIjafLnT
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kdKYkbbed
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQgYCAocuX
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE2KNswmfl
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmbRn6PGvj
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCqZgfHrpG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuxbRQOXrm
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgzGUzA4Ab
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAze0bJ9Lyy
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zCGK57nuq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvISaszXb6
　　「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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI542JHSHd
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5XQmDejeW
　　『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。』310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf100QGYhWw
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8gF22KpUV
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmLMdq17u8
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZXWYAH4kw
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSgIsJ6Flr
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZk3IfGScS
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGulGR9z0k
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MVJx5qBDE
　　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？310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOWn01kepb
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs5TrRhfrf
　　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？310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSxDA1UK6S
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ceNYlcph
　　「……我不知道啦。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceR8PwxTOt
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v1aYSAmnB
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNstXXNpZFc
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBW4k5E1bx
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4uIeXj1dG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0JSDP8VxT
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkKrbqFK9V
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvY0ef6shf
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR2luDSxHw
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d9ns9HNQ8
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmkIWF5SjY
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LAbm1FXLs
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQYhlQyv5D
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3FxKHVqB3
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xGxgHUOYt
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7jIMHJQBO
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuNYrzTH2i
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr9BKmaWns
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp4mT1u9bJ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxzUIfuTqv
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiYUaN3RiD
　　※310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvAivKxZ7B
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC59ojzfU8
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZpM2zGVgm
　　「紫藤……？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8V30al8FG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8tvViUPdH
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZLZP8VxRt
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1CGeivU0Z
　　「紫藤？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK4aZomQCI
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBobYynzICe
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4xYAmdaAr
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hLVJ9H3pd
　　「紫藤！」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSWdJGn49V
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdbCrL5jH4
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTx9I2J34j
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPPDQj1mvl
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILqqFWje3K
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vgsznCOoz
　　「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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1VfoIhIA1
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBMcy5YjhS
　　「……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。

310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqQCVaQgKv
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUTol2QdZU
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uR78fmxZa
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AbNqlGoKu
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1JjM5RO5A
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj5ksakmjN
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOeLcPHYFi
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5mBPizWBG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEF43NRgJg
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNwiKPQFaB
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0ARzkq4UC
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZaZC2VXg5
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyrGaE2Iv5
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKdj1jWxck
　　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？310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiEhgmgPZg
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDSVfkOkPw
　　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——310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHBxg4PhTf
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdLGWyxeFe
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRzPAeTNrb
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy412KOktCG
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCKO4WGcu3
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2EwXDgn3o
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnERSd863pL
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C46uFp8yd
　　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。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzhQzZl4yW
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NE5lrCcqf
　　不能再停滯不前了。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZJ4hX7L6z
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ0H7lWIOA
　　自己正成長著。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIklTAoHYo
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakwNB4iEq1
　　紫藤這麼相信。310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmYP1uxzzz
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyYOXGmyvH