當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXDvG79tEn
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumIPFcDShx
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpVWQszYCh
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9iSQyx7ac
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKqtKulmnz
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1DkxpoRHr
　　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：487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuWPGYl2Ix
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCpUcx1PwT
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEGj8Rm0rh
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeusOloZEsu
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtBnPm9Jfu
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rcotNGKaP
　　「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。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBSwetloDV
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5EH6OTq5I

　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILkxApMVxZ
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbAutbwGZI
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6KmuNmf3V
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbM5KUP7Jf
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5Pwp4eJD2
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPooHhteQ6
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWi6e1gGPS
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeCKT9euSr
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2j42Inw2q
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0doba2pLU5
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWOhKArtIz
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDqyJp6YCn
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDIHWDuXl7
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgZQ5LzXOx
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgPNgkcGui
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfyf635805
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF3c1NR9sG
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEySqjkWqn
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9cI1bIszA
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhp40a03Ou
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYht6GTtC8
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7zvWy5eH9
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ56MM85V0
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WdvuYdqHG
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5g2ogkHeL
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcvRIrF9PQ
　　「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。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNcjP9lJq1
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8QSOTVAUW
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYqziL3Vej
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQCGx0zuGp
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFESAW4NXf
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLeRHN4KiZ
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw6DKSrFke
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv4qNaAAld
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1hx8o25RO
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYgzhAJQe8
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8Dx3ir2Gi
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2YOpMX4XL
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdQDBKrM5s
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60VLfAUHpO
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd7Z9PeD6F
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gnG0Mep4O
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMqHLhW7UK
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLFHpcNgwp
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4b4UTjMC9
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytqnbjSj7s
　　「嗯……好。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgDWcLKFuY
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIDBCIhFIH
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QqsglTcdP
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1NT1DcSbo
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQgtuibq3b
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeCpkm9pbr
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBRyFFPe8q
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4YtwL5Gmj
　　「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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT1EM8sthl
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWUbkkXQ6u
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQMZwJQsAa
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCp4rlicNw
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoAIWdCC10
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9IfC5M1Mm
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauD1bfKN4R
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhN0RPK1gA
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOZynFbNz8
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER3rn2dbb0
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaschKC2Bj
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGpls9mblM
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31KjfxTv2L
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9x0SKyLIU
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzK4VzNGcT
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrf5pasMEz
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHCNWbMYxy
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJmzt2veNZ
　　「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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Tm8pqsuY
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5HwJJYPHL
　　『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。』487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM2Udbe6YY
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3LhS9hhpC
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUYCJsuxXH
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IovivJ7dL
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjKYij1kBR
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwvdWSWgHS
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBabU9MhWzI
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzBspDHu7r
　　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？487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27SC9v8XIb
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasUlJhyHrt
　　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？487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIemyypyWL
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHul0DQHQml
　　「……我不知道啦。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaufLrpl7V2
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaMemxlg31
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfSOOeG8QU
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8zFyHWv7j
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4zumFxFnp
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR89eIr2qX
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsijsi59FD
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN4SXBnUVj
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ01abm4JTY
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ADdMZqjmr
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsZs6WHHlE
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUidByeeq4
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqCKgH4naP
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9BhdFkAcu
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFF5CBqX9A
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3vtIxGlyY
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ4IujBmgC
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB4MaXx4mH
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2Ouz0PCev
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGzuPvvcVB
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa0M3ZTsGA
　　※487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFJRLDBnDB
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu7moFh8Di
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hN45LFFVX
　　「紫藤……？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3QQ3ccy3V
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y9ZbEnJ01
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ydrRADERx
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tqak6JhHN
　　「紫藤？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDOhewr7vC
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjvmx1sqkj
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi0zMOgvRC
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLrMNFMmbu
　　「紫藤！」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTBSUQjhh6
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtGzBvu8Ie
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSc62zIfAU
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2kUxg57B8
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5sfbvEUoO
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcQoX0smA9
　　「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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfreDYkmtV
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvUqmGY2vg
　　「……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。

487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvb0o6CM7V
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVrur599Mj
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o3pUQInVi
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAD1llS2ER
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRiLaBh7Hf
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7df7LeGV9Q
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupl6X9I7lx
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhyq2ORTSy
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacSlCOM1DS
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCbA6dk6HK
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNci5vd0HHR
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbice981U2
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZJraj5BTN
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUULcYA80ML
　　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？487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQobXycMDE9
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhh1pTZLlp
　　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——487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzsMBmys3c
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhetQPDjRs
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjGdvXBDI3
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiXCyxAYVn
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkojISdHiJ
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNjdoDaS0P
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVdVWm2VwV
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqxaxNMKLQ
　　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。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhYtu1bJmU
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHA1q0182H
　　不能再停滯不前了。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUzYpaigS9
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi961BRiyfY
　　自己正成長著。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjvgunRL1I
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GsbJ954re
　　紫藤這麼相信。487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zmM5TRu8K
487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkbtywgR71