當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZw6dTqvRW
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINA7wtuDg3
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uNdPSXF4c
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR4uIreHqh
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq3Sbvf09Q
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfzW6RzRj9
　　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：309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknoaMhaxA4
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz80e10xMi
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmcmqSaQFB
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJreWMBc8f
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFCggVkouN
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4dbrb3ALN
　　「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。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4nZJXoL4a
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU19FT76mqc

　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIcr5s3qxX
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlCnLYVL3A
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoDUzsHii1
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTxx0CpZ4F
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68T7f0eUdY
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxYKJ9aZEM
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAltx0znRC
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1tvW9GmW4
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEvkigWu3M
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFYvRlw6Bl
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWYsQVr2hF
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoATuTaNSNJ
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Ht9JAoa3
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFubKtCA451
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXXa4XSVqc
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqdB15t2XG
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzXZ4511va
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRHmTuuhrG
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjZSZ4xAqd
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy9oqPT46E
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZVhEfGRNM
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRvXRCoxXZ
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrquHdVWAX
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9pEIGKYuF
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0jLPJPM32
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOmsM14XsQ
　　「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。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqes41PeCBR
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPdG2WJDQV
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6ldcGvfoo
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyR5nKVF75
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTKjtB8gFJ
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1lMRZ3K3B
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjPJfFVJKw
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOedD9fS7n
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR6AeWs7Yb
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnSftMc2Bq
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cwrj6E0p9
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfcVZST1yi
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYURvjgcuti
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh6YbQig17
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq8i9S94Aq
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwIiumk4iM
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd5ylejUms
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYxq8Jyywq
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9S3HvG67p
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PJ7tzGiJ3
　　「嗯……好。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDyYhWPsjq
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuYrN65Nmz
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHpTROukfZ
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXcUR2HRu9
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohMhcyzwDa
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvCkqZW24L
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpOjmKUWEt
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w8YcoP1zc
　　「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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uKqGs4WKu
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL3sH7iEqx
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSku742RKp
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TH2v1IMk5
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilytb5DUHN
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DePPAnwLU
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7qGcjJQpg
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XzaPM3TuM
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKpYSSZ5a8
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eqlweydIy
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R2WJqEbKh
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxuIalBjFr
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWf9YrBaPb
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM07KmjtZDB
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr764ldhYmn
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkFRX2Mwwh
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge6mWJfvRa
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVGuBHiUHw
　　「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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiX8YKVoyn
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡordhtZLXP7
　　『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。』309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wQ6hBEeOn
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxud72BONx
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1yoryOQ15
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTNAz5PbdE
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1hlBgsTWx
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGQijznG5a
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn3o0PTm0h
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBB73s9Guj2
　　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？309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGuNubYC6z
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzCQrCsggb
　　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？309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdqQHGgeRo
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcnjRsbmgl
　　「……我不知道啦。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcUOWnzFTV
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwrvatCEsn
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOssL6lefQ
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx2jjzzsbp
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gcSPwFJyy
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjPI7uXI7f
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB1Ig0z7G1
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdZOH82Jjm
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoyqXHo4rO
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7ziHiuEvZ
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNdlo1PXgp
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXOPWBDsx5
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEunXwEYbL
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqq0EsPRgb
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYHzgUttg9
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7de2sxW61
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkdorbnGUI
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXMVXpRsjF
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSscc3UV7P
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rIeza2fn0
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlmDayAIms
　　※309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKQsIFmVts
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNagNB2USN
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXI2G6LMiJ
　　「紫藤……？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkvMYrBuE1
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxXdN2reGw
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBVbe6IIaH
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3maRbv9Um
　　「紫藤？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ3atkfBMa
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgfcMGQaQ7
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TuQPcPAWG
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJzpYQpUBJ
　　「紫藤！」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFokbthP5W
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl4Sm8bvFo
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhxXAGvSU6
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHzhIYnvX2
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2Toi8oREb
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPI7qq8W3C
　　「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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4I4iuHzgF
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxiGwUW9JO
　　「……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。

309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMgwctm1Lj
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKgqOj1kqA
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf1wHfMdxd
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pFlXXq5ip
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJOoIWVCM3
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtloSYSShAT
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtb10haWiPh
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzFhB0vwZs
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOgv5iZ3nO
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO6XQFWw7g
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5THS5W8ea
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWJMA5SFZu
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7q6pvINen
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6n8gfwz38
　　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？309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ha8pu0GzF
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IlaO5TZX3
　　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——309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ85Z4rE2ao
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWV40G2f2W
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V2z2BPyzC
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpisrETAwYl
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OLjrK5cgZ
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX50796RgBv
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymh2B9cTwT
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw2KOLM19V
　　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。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPe8HvDSrt
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4rbDxOpIK
　　不能再停滯不前了。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr0v2ebJtD
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqH5yh5iel
　　自己正成長著。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUS07Eca53
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE3grgynhv
　　紫藤這麼相信。309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LrR5cGHWr
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXskbDznd85