當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxge86e8zT
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuSB09e5qU
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZgh3eb0OV
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAe5pYb3qj
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BfPnyPhT1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNETeYWxK6N
　　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：324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKR70fN1pe
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEzB73UNyj
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbusc9YfxDV
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalHTGTSbzK
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl4sxLa4aA
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCZ1zuX4LU
　　「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。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9abuINoJo
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlrJ5CnaK2

　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aMaWrKO5j
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmJ58xJCUR
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWtSWb8Sia
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5V73VBkml
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUIZ9Xplaz
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcxS0Fkm5j
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tLJQmYHYz
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkQnaOHfZY
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzhpmSCyxz
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2mQJklqqB
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxibg0ZrVFv
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNRQs6yoRl
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckW0gF44mg
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tAPgetWSY
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMd8MtZjtF
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcMCXS56T4
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFekhLb4QAh
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGeExUYda4
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CmdMpTTFi
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfMJGCTcnb
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG3xgPSaIn
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMhWaBXynK
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2bPTVcLNC
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTflBKX5M3c
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hbr0ptd2G
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIdmkUULrt
　　「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。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeBIo1y6td
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtWJDYC3Ew
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWmIifP4oL
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8N82PmVkN
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsOWEYsHaY
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iVsA20Aww
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiALbURInTg
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjduLB2reTR
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRgzTM7qWh
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9ySymCxrG
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG0ayNhois
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Ok3FDWxr
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNw14gZZLv
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQpEHoauHF
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7zJ9CyKZp
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoifjoN9Hpa
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBOfdHo2H1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lXab0FD7T
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjpD4soLer
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGsJ5R1wiR
　　「嗯……好。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7QIYQls2U
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOys09Xuwxr
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkCV54mZ43
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl9C4jzHBa
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLuQqCmorH
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEjhGEscp0
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbfZIGWT0f
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95mpR76RTe
　　「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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWo2DeZPiU
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpEHNn0TIo
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNA0cuvQfr
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyZyW6lBKS
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgVU1bLhTW
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9Ns2SIYfw
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdQTL1Tmiw
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZwx0hPTmu
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIisR8iBMuo
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GZ3BXewAf
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWMkRIbCP1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHQcTrbr1E
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SbOuaA8ZX
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaPLyPDrTV
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oYin5WClv
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSOziaqzzz
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlJVmjFREc
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IKwsNWIgm
　　「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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xfolSCvKS
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQIRPVHc5s
　　『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。』324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg1nJbflRd
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ3xCV69PJ
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElOzAEcjqP
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDMOewlFYP
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvkDsGgYcv
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpE2NoRu0x
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOnyeXWGOr
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ln1xoogQo
　　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？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHMJxIZZuM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2vdbrPF5k
　　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？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRjdbiIe3I
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERSSz3uhZI
　　「……我不知道啦。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJnwuyCZgE
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfhv9x4Vv6
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvKGB5Nios
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CZhBZtn6L
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfGE97iys9
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBgtTcbsPU
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpBhuwReOo
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF7ISDn0YM
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34ALn0dSoS
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnGdTfTq9M
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYTQxmDlqz
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyC6vf09xT
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsRS86V91l
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBfm4cqOEP
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxeRYOFGuq
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9bfmP5DJ3
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCYkHq5Sru
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zYF2jJuxW
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAx29uiPrP
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3ExIjJgTb
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vrDZRFDeG
　　※324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa32YJv5Wc
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiheXLwOiGn
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA0cZSQN3v
　　「紫藤……？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP5HpNsg2g
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ7UlvdmDa
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV3RxbgpmG
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bmWPFJKC4
　　「紫藤？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTghNQUsWI3
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cnIZlmabM
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnTl8knyXL
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFodPE2HrsL
　　「紫藤！」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb74iiV02JN
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvmekZSiW8
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu1RES8doM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSpPJgsSjc
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Ozr5CEA8
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiGXmNEKQv
　　「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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopT2RW362w
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsor8QomO7v
　　「……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。

324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsEvfsUUld
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJboABntYuF
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmMWzOfeCa
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgXybC0Ysl
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2K7VNPFGr
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ2sMmpjH9
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RXJB8u4hs
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh100mzDmm
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUCbLiSXt0
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX1L1Vn2yQ
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdQh7yt0zi
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0r3qxYGB8
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFrXb5g49g
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0knEbSz2l
　　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？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTaKiY33lj
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhvpa8xTVG
　　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——324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwbRroOza7
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0cIpR9X9j
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQff6c5YqhM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGasNXX0qjB
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA29v626A7
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7Lmz05sKN
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GDOsf8t0v
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfPNlBxs5c
　　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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FY4vBDYpp
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLZD0oYKg1
　　不能再停滯不前了。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsSRKysO46
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY2iOfCUOy
　　自己正成長著。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITUsELwazl
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1GYrsdcZv
　　紫藤這麼相信。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2d5yqyIo6
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXnI7n27g8