當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJaoWM05uQ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoiUP7VGLG
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw7zzqhVJf
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkoA41sUz0
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRB7XTq1p1
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtVBiTViB9
　　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：376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P5c4R7yfK
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvU8nNxhr7
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNAVfSnrP3
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ju6HVW6Pl
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bJ5dyN7Iv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0u2bZ66rc
　　「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。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr7MuhM8jX
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vw8efqLh5

　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QvsgPLOXM
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQADmjVR7o
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVLuNUUMTP
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUixOHKm1An
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP63ww6lY0
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WWIhi3eel
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWX49gODFi
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmsGEnG3mW
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuka3XGbaqt
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpvrrWP6jf
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEUULNlqow
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOifiHNLANu
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUjNRIAYl6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjvucwhGmO
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35ZHiKqofg
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB9kIRn85F
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqbZFGbqZ6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKIKCIObqy
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RVzXmkpoV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5GI8sJHAd
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFfZquNbZ8
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfCeombEkP
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqgXl2n8OQ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2UclVuJP3
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQItW6sY7lA
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN6DFGrpvZ
　　「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。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg65c1uyU2m
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJA1Jkuxz3
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI69gOrQ6Pd
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx5ES04ykh
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpZxp9K89M
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8wVoP0c4h
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEwQQtnKwH
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73XoLvHCsc
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVTYg333if
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzB6SVuxrT
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N4FG8stun
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsSb5xefCH
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIurwcIfSJ7
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2SKdDrNon
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlufNV35DFl
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rrxa4cMQa
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gA0AyczOm
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4RkXDswYs
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqP8WQhpSI
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH2yg5bpqx
　　「嗯……好。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgX67TxSyU
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyiWAv8r3T
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqw7zHIjMA
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1lL1345jJ
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv3ONWuiBv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuZFdheBnS
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOOdP9RZnV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYbph6Vnci
　　「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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN4ImeXBwi
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr1xGOyEQK
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEQy5fQu56
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLS8KWtYla
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg3L3HGN5s
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiEyclxZGJ
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMWMwwBrSe
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UXwcFbZ9Z
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBc7kjnTF5
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhzQRN5gxd
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0xgsxIZRz
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7oEXgzzB0
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdv9Ke3pl7
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybpCJcODtY
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ34n2iwNbg
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6ir7cj4N9
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIBDgfunri
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi5MrieY6d
　　「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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfNvuRVO0d
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPVmP7KGdy
　　『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。』376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aSg3Gm64a
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2cLuN9NIK
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsQv8OT4qL
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoHleLVbCo
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bBSV5EzLc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ456eDav3gx
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLjxRT0CDh
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1nMSwDlAn
　　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？376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsrWYCB4PC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhhb3Ttm5p
　　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？376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmgYAavZFq
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosD5NKAB5e
　　「……我不知道啦。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4AoalK46t
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03VWZvIzPY
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk1NFI7wWg
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCaHAmZPum
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7469fzmmA
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX7bUppkVg
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvXdsBBxp7
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5twMv5l2KE
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdhHrdICZ6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf0zWUbHuW
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG3K9cH7VO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsSygcQa9y
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDVwcx1GNJ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6rbxQpBYu
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJNlDzw1Tw
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG9oWXT1F4
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8OLwbYXBK
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGktzBiaD5E
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqmICCqYhS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjQOKwXkIc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSSxFRVZ34
　　※376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZRlq4SBlR
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnql1eLt7I
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB7yumZBHR
　　「紫藤……？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVC3NTVzXe
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIiZSGBIB5
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KeVoF3rWx
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv53TxWEex
　　「紫藤？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgS3U87Ndz
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrcOmpLaQ9
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5xErZwrVK
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW7YDAP0bn
　　「紫藤！」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1YVHbGo53
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmCqcgJbwW
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fxKRFaxER
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC69L1h5A5
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFtheX3On4
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nioHrqivV
　　「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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGmIwamqwO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrgfskGjNw
　　「……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。

376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGLc21Bx6j
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxuBEvbmlq
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYFOrsyjAS
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8KqIwT57o
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOW9GefMjs
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkFpXOkZVd
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu5SQ2uIpr
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMLL62oqzW
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqk16oA1BY
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL3hl7hzro
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o522itN1c
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuRCI2CKl2
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqQYmj3u68
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMRgwVitLp
　　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？376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhUsx3su2l
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6CBrNaaDB
　　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——376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnvTtKaIpn
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasd5zK4lUg
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L919fNyzs
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7dpcGUVSl
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDF3XLz51R
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOcXeoAMlz
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRgO9NQT6S
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKatTClrxr9
　　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。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rXp9nDB45
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOdkHuWvaD
　　不能再停滯不前了。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkcQvGs8cA
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHO1ZFRLdl
　　自己正成長著。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuMTLdyhmC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPousPeD5KP
　　紫藤這麼相信。376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZZQrPCVzC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD3JpzmLdU