當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5XaJ56aUw
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakFDuypgGZ
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGq2q02GIK
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyylksahC4
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pf0ILsHFS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxh9EYT46P
　　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：377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLb10sx8lM
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BnHZvXNxQ
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxntisjlPZV
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV94pzzpG8C
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGvoiOM5LS
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6Bpxv6X8A
　　「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。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJwHVNldOX
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCWR2FVjsH

　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2lPgCjlMP
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKEep6Wbng
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rZ1REfimr
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8F8Sv2cun
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kGzRWb7bL
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt73CuEKlt
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSybWobfmHd
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgSP6CDi0i
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQqhq1pbYY
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNzTpPBvWj
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjRG2rKhri
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoKvQkwfk0
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6kYkxLZUN
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0miJHEs2v
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOZ5rI26h2
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhHexIPkFK
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRqHFTdKdo
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaFEJJDtQZ
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGR2FlSXqv
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qsEHgviyi
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQyZnDgflP
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz6Eg3cvVz
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1oQprARsD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddREZgqiiI
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4ppMHdfhs
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidrsDiNTqa
　　「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。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5pHUxB30j
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84jJsBX7OP
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YCafwxidy
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPUD5a3BpS
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuecAC9bM2
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEstc0a3Cha
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ngFccHuN
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPWtFQ4qQv
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ834ZHbe5c0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnYvIXHDfg
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9QD9ffCr9
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeSq7AJrXK
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIw6K6mq3b
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpaw8aJFV8
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwlyBFl35H
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhDACwSYYb
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLDTZu2FnP
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfGPkfTWGY
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYKaf5N2TK
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOOuxkdWLo
　　「嗯……好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX1f2Ljkp0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XIfRuUS57
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J26VNdBpf
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqr8x4860j
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRGaoJzi8A
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsTuhFqCw7
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYu194Q6fb
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxhN6WfYRr
　　「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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhHFTHp1SG
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gp569nnGo
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVmYhENa4i
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3A0yzLOYB
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy63rqBc5f
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLbDYhxlDK
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0YDQDDaWe
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GZvmpEDRk
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrpNNWFfrQ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zAd45W6ql
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixOah73AyB
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLJrtDskOY
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzkTEBRZsg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDZLiReymt
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS6TsTtaoR
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLLum5nDmP
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsszVG1Qke
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqjJteemQH
　　「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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MdWSGPGsF
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYuHZlXH2E
　　『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。』377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD2fhhoJw6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJL16e9iNi
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdifyyRk8l
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfH6PYzNm1
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL6baqHu8G
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzikaVFrFhM
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ziyChXaB6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFXOk6XoGA
　　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？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyT6XFKPJm
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNRb8xE6Zq
　　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？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iD3Hb2bbH
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgUmcoF0A9
　　「……我不知道啦。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy4oDAXLAJ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MzXd0rny6
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ860bmSe12L
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C9EYJe1wN
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4ge8cGnKp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKar7VOh8e
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMafKgmeh6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGNA0pRaJT
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSk8vLLssn
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh2Pht8k5D
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5OQyE3DRL
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAAGsl4MtX
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlu0udkZ1i
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC92ECJ55Rj
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMCNmVB2i0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1fcP20MCg
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X7MEebNI8
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMupEe1qolD
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkWBbHsruH
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6qBelczPK
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXkWOfpOsp
　　※377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUxdaAYnCi
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVi2RqSXvn
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6CCDjj5uT
　　「紫藤……？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5dSzmx2vr
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt6a9wOTOj
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGefGk2cmg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhpHIdAvAL
　　「紫藤？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsW3Dcqqba
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2QeUO4jlY
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Dw5PIvSL
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeb9HzqMxH
　　「紫藤！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJMw8k1ncL
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxMaqz6tcW
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUbn9QPTvR
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVGrWKa4yj
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysxhSlBX1b
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUzsV5Bo3f
　　「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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQCdjghgt2
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWyxYvD4Ov
　　「……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。

377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjTXfmQcyr
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtBeQ2UMUk
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ797oZPRAdT
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3xdsHpuWO
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7rZvH0WKv
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhYedOB2l5
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ehu4D1jwX
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ6z1CgpSD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPCHokPhxd
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwtzS2LQHs
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXq5LH56JWC
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxKpmwyvpC
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1JLluJquu
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsDFm7Iuls
　　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？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNHMqBVo23
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgy5sgzF5t
　　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——377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9AoUABPjU
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLpmytznhU
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxaOsgDp4V
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXhMhBLzLz
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICf2Xu8YCA
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgrD0zrXHX
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ501GO2V6VJ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTCLUWPxkQ
　　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。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNszNNauxh
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKAKwnzDYr
　　不能再停滯不前了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8Qc6NUbva
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNKPrQfeod
　　自己正成長著。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ZLFthPxB
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01G6WX76Ct
　　紫藤這麼相信。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULdVSJJXAy
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocJ8u2fBIL