當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDCHKUob74
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyJo5fLSle
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWZUZ27O6g
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4a0Zs0Ace
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX6uL1maOB
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZunwMhu9gG
　　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：330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsz9OywpYy
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O7walhFFr
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYK2wJZzev
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz1F3n7uiT
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1yQoaaqYd
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsVEuABuoO
　　「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。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU0KpYcQHW
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXeUfiFz5Z

　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EWm1SfLeR
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSgDJ1sjkd
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlJL0EuAxL
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nuD1Mmnc9
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniMwO86wDD
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMMK4j9jGJ
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf3zJnqoxq
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqim2ESHQV
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNdf59L8Hj
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNrbri7cg5
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCwLHbdpX5
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1orUZcd4k
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiR4nUWxB6
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelXw1wzmL7
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHSwdKbaYY
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi4OWOCuoz
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY73sMD4RO
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO03RZAnBs
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEuM123GJG
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx12p1oyyE
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6462TYXiiI
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7AxIyNqNv
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHQUCcmeox
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NdyyY0d56
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoffSE33Mw
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutvBGqyWVQ
　　「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。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpYfOFGoaz
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67QWcSmhEv
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5yta2lQ8P
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwJJ7G8c6X
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKijnkzjw3m
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sphUASg8I
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkQJjhHZph
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXRx3nmNwN
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHtRO9nleB
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXlMxM0318
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FtR8Crl73
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqaiZwtJOy
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuRDt65890
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMHt4TUQi8
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiL4wVQsnP
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoizNKQuNY6
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81vs0Hxlxo
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cpGQyS3Wc
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2dWFm6coK
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0qGQZT0wn
　　「嗯……好。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yIBBjqioK
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b4sgOeGUT
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqTkT66Tph
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtbTMQTGcJ
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD6jVRTVJJ
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2y8mbRXYM
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD8PAgRC0J
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AZ7TvAlin
　　「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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvabuY4lvL
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLxUz5KRKv
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSXV4YRzha
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurUqK6l6Ot
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzPFyM0958
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nFHuEPVCc
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKeW88YlyM
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVM9EGAaIU
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hvYiHsL3C
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyuMCf5Xua
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6BHRukTp3
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsoXJ622Jv
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbFXmxXMOQ
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPHri1bg0G
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHt2iieNJb
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpM29xsFMf
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfn1tu3OEP
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCuxIbwa97
　　「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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq89MMLvvr
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXSllv00xT
　　『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。』330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasQTJf2y1B
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsepe6A1htH
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLTgCEhB4E
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6i7wSqHG6
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmOW05P1hH
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpwKkIKNYv
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpnqygjdGe
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdXl8VTmvi
　　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？330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE47YnCuSm
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmgD2t4Kc3
　　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？330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA5O8xq2Hq
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQw0HF0npF
　　「……我不知道啦。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKnCfXkXpm
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8prSSZJWy
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoXEg4WB6S
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP3mP7GFZe
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsscIlImVpm
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOrAi6yrXs
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqSROv7Nrq
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPnOYr2bY1
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjHLJR6IQW
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0r95U0Tz8
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLzpI6vzUU
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk8FEECeWK
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiWfvJxSH1
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡourVYir69w
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvatYOlar0C
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR4E4lGEvU
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHLe0ceD0v
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsscWpsAR8
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9HLmGLwYA
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquhBr1afbK
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxKUZkUgNV
　　※330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xpxSMaQAh
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjsCCaMVAC
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OzRHiAk71
　　「紫藤……？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxeBloWmz3
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAz8LZQR7A
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdOddy7ZgF
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9K46XCWPa
　　「紫藤？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr6G02NTYV
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVpTE64PvZ
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4gpJZKZcK
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmaPXKHcrK
　　「紫藤！」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkD2BRbiNn
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4KKa6dFqn
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJGGG0T4UM
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQpcODtFsO
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9DTYM1tgx
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocbhirdTsE
　　「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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuJS4VytRn
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaugws2CX7
　　「……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。

330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxQuEDAbnq
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTY7SJBEDV
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ0JaYkT3b
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6HdSPESaM
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tX66iYZX1
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bbc0NSzVg
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMBCoBe36u
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFsyAwCvDe
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FZ7Lz8lNv
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFmwitu6xQ
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYYQlnYYtS
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cmDgcF0Af
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3USgo34zDU
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJlcIzqcvh
　　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？330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wlh3ObO4T
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LodFTBCu7
　　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——330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3RPbfhN1s
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3hsjOQJgk
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5w2rTmvnz
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttvch4WmCE
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4rEM6pLkB
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sbKrtGVOg
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VvuHkxI2c
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKni7claoVc
　　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。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m75mtziRE
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv3HbCOdfw
　　不能再停滯不前了。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp6QNEcrJU
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEQYy7PuKG
　　自己正成長著。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LJw1SQzDH
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd1Y8ym7IU
　　紫藤這麼相信。330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDYS09DWKv
330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNTZuyIE9K