當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVQXk0QkCg
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFwV2CG2YV
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kV6K0e2sG
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN8jGDBBm5
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiureAdOT0A
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXvZ0y2iEI
　　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：390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aED5eZJgi
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SJaM9Ip9P
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3Es46obLQ
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8OnDOFdGL
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX4mvz82st
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCcJhBcX1V
　　「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。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgCbH2aM4a
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtjH2VNN3x

　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2YPRvjTSy
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o6QJ5sa9W
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgfMwb4NMH
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmV2iUpiy6
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTv3H3oSHz
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvs69bVJjA
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaXF5sfwhy
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUbSeXuTqS
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qwJTPl6ZG
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlahw5IZ8Z
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp1TRyM0lP
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahjjVsMlEb
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37w1Ut60KT
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTB5USpraM
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0nRClQePD
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡModaHkmFav
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihdPUAIeEv
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCCZG3NmXy
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNi0mfUxCG
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYn1CZWjxj
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy1JCSXhXh
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNjCNiKyWK
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFF3z886Xp
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ423vAdhxFH
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxYcpcaczK
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNFNRFvHwZ
　　「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。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP18s08SX2v
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkfvvFxV0C
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0H4U5RUKc
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCwVx9Clud
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kDeC0eDIC
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9BudjVQXQ
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDskK8AjD7O
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOouIjddv1
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTzzwmvvTB
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0loGEF6Bku
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUuw3hcdZb
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp4LQUeGL8
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAztcLLmxu
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e46UDrePK
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtIhlR6Qje
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDOSerxCMK
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxxOMYHPiS
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvZijlXnOV
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSypMIKE0HN
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHUhB3f6M7
　　「嗯……好。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB14gzJFtl
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkBZVzM8Ht
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKiB4AEacA
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d85Y78tFf
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTW4VCI8A3
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wUl5oEAfU
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnJ3uRWAHc
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtvruUGe0Y
　　「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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kqJlCijH6
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd0W5t4d69
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntkdUkG5xA
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol5jGcfXna
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBtN36QKml
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh0akxse1X
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXiZbFrbqX
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1mE3HXhOQ
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTJMNaxMLa
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFbmPkfQrj
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMvJB7p5Sw
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KYr3BCL1p
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5F9Lw4l8R
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvddDvkKwW
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWufqkhqsG6
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0qS6gIuL5
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbCg6AQivG
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXCaRrmrOL
　　「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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgua6e8tU78
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODUmjv6CFA
　　『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。』390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VRkrifTzz
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ6fLcknWi
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3M0GUE6Xh
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChmdLzjgcz
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXIMQdIHas
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiwKAH05wn
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopaVlgp0Od
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIlmY6OANP
　　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？390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqlOyVJBQS
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rCFPO4AJ1
　　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？390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjkSVtNwm9
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrE3M94tAr
　　「……我不知道啦。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LKK99GEip
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14B74xoiTO
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr6PPfUYtx
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCXSOnyUMD
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTe3cRiyKC
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3z5Fza5Wy
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTOnrU1Zh5
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JlzEQa8tG
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyPKPa0ZH8
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7RGuESe5d
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsp86BkPCo
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjQhLvmLrH
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw76RfvCSU
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvSz7lBx2g
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiCGALVtd7
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFtpRhO4Ns
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKcpgJirlf
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30XWbpayVG
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFZ9qglFlp
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZTDgkHYl1
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoJxisHfvW
　　※390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EjRvAzJHj
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCwF8huvgJ
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpGGNsrSRL
　　「紫藤……？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNmKWZb89f
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rIJML4TiO
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Td440qDET
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ7FlIxYzO
　　「紫藤？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOvgHJXBdu
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGhTI0Zp9X
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZfv8pIcIu
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvzE9hH3sS
　　「紫藤！」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmRRCe7393
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc67ldFXY4u
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyiyDqAySW
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXbo2O5uT1
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspgUP8G2Ty
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7odpG49Zj
　　「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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsETgFUecLN
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe0XIgp7Kp
　　「……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。

390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgmLbmnotj
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva56gIORKs
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXiz9Lz4oa
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIw83vz6sU
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIldwGSw7V1
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkUvdRJLwo
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBqPerRyl0
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLjQB0DVxy
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKEIpVBtdg
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a6NgQ0ZIF
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm6ed0jxaT
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdsn6VV3wV
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFc2nN8qyn
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpx3jJ2L56
　　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？390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqUgogZiKb
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTg8JQwtXq
　　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——390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCZ61XNTEa
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHOKJBGIyL
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88Z7l5tC50
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEghk3QHws2
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hhp8OawTV
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmBhXkzfEY
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUm85KzKTt
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCWXif4ptt
　　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。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODzIFS5MRu
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6hhSIy6ej
　　不能再停滯不前了。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg3b03wBuH
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL1HWWLqj2
　　自己正成長著。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0PHT1CfoN
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y8wIOj11q
　　紫藤這麼相信。390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWFFsuo6L4
390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgl0kdfDIQ