當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjO6gcTeCG
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKK9Q41O6L
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFf8RAONZn
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQFg7p55jf
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYniQv1Udw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsPCxZlXEV
　　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：350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoqhW8lfXv
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NvqUe4Gi5
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLZCX9web4
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtBoTNT52c
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWayjqIVDub
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjVskArfeh
　　「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJVZrnwBmA
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkPvJLLDNp

　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpKKAGSX1P
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX9QT7nHQQ
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvJSL4WXaT
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9ScuOluZb
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblb6zg1fo8
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWGMCjdkes
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuL8TStjXT
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6IjqmisH0
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOncUbewJl
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCXYPWltDQ
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQHZPHHGli
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC40oBGTQb9
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZfMt4i0Ia
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCI5YspEbV
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCgoMsea80
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMexYvTIO6
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDnAgJFEYi
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklQYbz9QcP
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHeGnGiN0x
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aNnAEw9uk
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9qVPbEXke
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaFfOUArvv
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrAKtbh4iM
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz3nm0w5Ul
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU8WDywHzk
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz90yyeTG3z
　　「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQWoAH73IT
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNWrN7kxm8
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIDYaRSMqU
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCFbIMRxIN
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3oaN71gwy
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVFHPCXHXK
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnnXdVeO2N
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mgd3oXr6i
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jbOXpYmAB
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexfMRsQDxs
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG6u2QLnAX
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJdO47bUfG
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JEEiIUSik
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvKDJHOnOI
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOWKl3PTda
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIrtHvzguN
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuXLOx1bKt
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuRcOAhL1E
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz8hdBkIr9
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOMSvy3WfZ
　　「嗯……好。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQeY3UzGns
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdk9YKc62h
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RqG4lHt2o
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vp5Fp8zqP
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmYLo87pfP
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0lRTuyx9B
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo9OwCv9Ok
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQdlXrzshs
　　「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMpDjXcvIN
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRIIuH7ipL
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxB5c335IT
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY9OdSwN3v
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoK7NdsBx7
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2SLfwxcdd
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeUnZOMWPC
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNcvCEwO7N
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzG1f6Mftp
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u4GqmKvJD
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWayrL37bDw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAbP8SPoco
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj7PcBomWm
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQf11SkWRI
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3CwOzxisP
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNOyWQAJkx
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtriG5emzb
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwPJleKaya
　　「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlTZ7M3Yf0
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OkvzqKxtg
　　『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。』350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XOPzw3z3r
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX0WmFifNu
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC494GmKvq
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OEK49jwjH
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7l5tWNMAC
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq7om6oEsx
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE9eD9lW3B
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sWGBjKSrM
　　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？350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwTr6rDILL
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaxaB0JaOf
　　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？350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCCAPgZwdd
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MnaxFn28T
　　「……我不知道啦。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5McpSPkyfp
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFN4aI17yc
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPRV9CTV2t
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YiWWwG4m5
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoKxEaA1c2
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cII25Z7FT
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoBZKTt40U
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaErd2c0LUr
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CXZ7p5hij
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq5EKkrGku
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BKrjD8Tle
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6GYEYswd9
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7wtCWVz88
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeB3R34vVe
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxPrw7dI0G
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk9GnbCgrc
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiacU0zkZNG
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbXwzTpWMF
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5InIQ0Z66r
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSVoFPRZdS
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk6yykyZCH
　　※350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzeR3euKHr
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgBuuvJOHC
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuErUwWwpyK
　　「紫藤……？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHTN3vwVPY
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2rzswgjSV
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dkdazwf7v
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqBY0ClYC3
　　「紫藤？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIfh8ELV7l
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfHeQbYMKI
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHlMiPcuNa
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoCBv8gbD3
　　「紫藤！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe7JkiZ74R
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWTl6glxa2
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBcXHt98O0
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG5RlOXsyY
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Rk9lIiA70
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnTpezKzFr
　　「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X5QyIROqP
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Aao68rzh6
　　「……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。

350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYnQrjuGJD
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdZE6Lams1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifKkqaiIBj
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3K3BjeeQ5
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjnX27kNDX
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ORZN4FVg
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdpPk88Mvo
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvrVT3bBNJ
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRokNPkiE0P
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiIX4eC0eB
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3pMgHthdF
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvthC7LyOX
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TrJ7Sl2qH
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGYomPkOT3
　　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？350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP52L0y1t6k
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacqgIDDfCP
　　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——350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Q5sRQhZg
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma8mBIjTmY
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXKQT4A4E7
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5H2IwoPG5
　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEwJpP7t3H
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　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpPYmQ2g0D
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　　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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPugJkOARL
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　　不能再停滯不前了。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtgigA5HOA
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　　自己正成長著。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHJJvfFY7v
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　　紫藤這麼相信。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MmlxXOvSa
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