當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpZeozjGJJ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DbIFPK0OX
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ548BVusykg
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I4eYm48ff
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG56fnU1C3
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnC4goFPq9
　　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：339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAZKmmVhu6
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBf1CBO2rr
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoBuXWdCIl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3H1zDWenO
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhQkTqFTmw
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5DBsbK130
　　「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。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX6uMDLXDT
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhZ9v0F5SU

　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ9BfRetIb
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6qFsMYaPK
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfY1fZIxKw
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1AF3xx0eq
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uU2wyslOd
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDnKlu1w0b
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1v8FCB1RR
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2B51857aY
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5Bv67ej9F
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6QytbbodG
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU5RsH524K
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs16cPnvsK7
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNnlcxX0bQ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcpvK4j996
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nQ49jrPS4
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavySv2fQXJ
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcCABFZoQE
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuvGzQgTbW
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF9GEv2sCf
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gGE5mrjuk
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc30BWtWd8
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXk7IK2382
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTydwZrw2C
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62ocD5pDrN
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYssHY4ULFl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaU7XFb7lA
　　「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。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUVS5Tu0s2
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXjgLJj1UE
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgWYsGCaWA
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8qhZWH7Yz
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ocdbBM5kF
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnKyud5YP6
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C6tWwNuZl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbokcavo9VB
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE6kmrtsu4
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROGBUNK3sL
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhY8n22Ljj
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6MV3uiryO
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfuaMgyhDC
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIcrD9CnOZ
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATJH7lv42w
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnDB4t9b4M
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOInfGbNq1I
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6KuHcIUHH
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27joOi8uhq
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDsP5GyweR
　　「嗯……好。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90BtVYq1wj
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vAvJtbDZD
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1ArNRCFa7
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMypGWbUSBU
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4FfHmr4nb
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01OK5Ltc5P
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwBVzcXzYx
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1beXbhT8n2
　　「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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKo5pf98Sr
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡantk6mwE7n
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p8wStsR2Q
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbolRSInK79
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeAsyFfLW2
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1xcgc2IQb
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n9VeYjmSK
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4lOmV9WRt
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq30fwOJSlt
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxoSNpDEYd
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAF02t0Csb
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCrTnxhQ83
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1z9CapTjs
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77hrosrwmY
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrVRZm6igP
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OCPYqmWIZ
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCidXSrn7g
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tbXKr6WaH
　　「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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZz879ggBz
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLBX3EPX9V
　　『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。』339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQHHnVSuGI
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo8AV9bQLn
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1gLC1O57Z
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNamsjTfPvf
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvz6wdfsZf
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZJoocbl7p
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozgT9PobQg
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDxoMNvlgT
　　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？339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7HhIgq9KH
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUjhKpa1WA
　　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？339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr8r0o2aVT
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWYPdRWDZf
　　「……我不知道啦。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfEVZrQLdN
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KiOYlfjGu
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OAnzBT0l0
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhD3Uw89p3
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7THHhenuh
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbasJ94m6h
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCti9l65rF
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEXlLHqTDm
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIyPAt58HB
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIteU7gRWB
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMsIV0nFas
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WxpZmwmzU
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGxdveMmfj
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2N8HiOPB3
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAyFFtfAmj
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp9qEMvbrs
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz2ByCvoOF
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSujfStbr09
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7ZhPcMgiI
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxngyXnjg5
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNaNWLs4Cs
　　※339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJBmSZWMZ4
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG3WoYJbRB
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5LAF0kzbB
　　「紫藤……？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsWoNjDzcj
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaxARbBc1S
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu0T1FP1XZ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjndBwCjBcM
　　「紫藤？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl72ogESief
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3jjljCBnF
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U5Uj92wsu
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5e0wzIYOR
　　「紫藤！」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLXeMUl3Sv
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l69ZRs6R8
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEwJC7G6Da
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzJK5kHGIA
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzAhLuLmah
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsJ6Fr0qjw
　　「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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHrTfrJaHn
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvJbuygzRy
　　「……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。

339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5in8MHbMl
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06Ay8jsjFm
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgwXF2ScK9
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbgiWWctrD
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYBjw2exjz
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIM1BxpTIl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAjDMPcO97
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWJdk3n6on
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo60e5WjUY
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UBCqgyIPL
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNriCTip2W
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaUcidBxD3
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGcEqfBh93
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIRaKGp1pW
　　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？339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPIQwVo3Eu
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE9yQqlhTW
　　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——339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGe6Di86ZG
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJaEoYHnWV
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33QFLYAlmz
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKykygLR3O
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgEctieq5i
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiCHFnpisR
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BCI3ZJeRx
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPHS5K5Tn3
　　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。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIF7VZ2Alp
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKaKbh6u5x
　　不能再停滯不前了。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvECtOxm0EB
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yoptTFacm
　　自己正成長著。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGBbhRu3M1
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet4P0QB9f6
　　紫藤這麼相信。339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkJY4Nm4Yc
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h1Oh8jzBF