當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNO57HvIAQ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp0zwt19BL
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0CIQvpxBL
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXRkRfzAjs
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPs9tiYhv4
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF9UeZ2bFy
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOEBoB0nOs
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYU3m42Bsi
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGYLFM8AZL
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4osRKQ06P5
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBq9919xvr
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8HSJGHpQI
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDGwbnCHYK
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbdUYmFP62

　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtzwXYEmWg
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00SJRdTgsY
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTOTlPdXGO
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyD0Q8JrLi
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuK8UZxmT8
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOotbX2RJ8
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ8SQVhgdD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0RLvGGECg
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj9uNLIJfV
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQcILataTC
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7erIJJR9be
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTIsXNlGpM
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMhUGYslU5
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg8XDXdn8J
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVMYiAW7dZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11GsneI5bW
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VO6h69Xeh
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9dhSNOV0Q
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kSXRndse9
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSZgLVF4Kd
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPwAG3JB06
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj70i0O7UVQ
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBchAqx2tuy
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g98gobBu6
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesPom9iydc
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QRcuqSqvF
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fgCF6Hq9i
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqujLe0Xzp
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtrLRsmRU2
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkigVKQM6t
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WtQPuPFId
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCXzePTYxj
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3rBCVZUjB
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErAPLUjmKL
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG4UqPyBkr
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWr96BqTMB
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1cAEiIoWd
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDYtN9czDU
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6daXYb0ClX
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEFwTETR2M
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpNUg6JwGA
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIoHsVzE4I
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6zix72jMW
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtLaxm4lAe
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVePu94mIG3
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH87jXHxbQ
　　「嗯……好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR9DPxj0bW
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRSBeTAGQ2
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeuIVnDZwd
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjv1ZMa1S3
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaNDZCOLis
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2uQjEW2aq
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BD5ivYi8X
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC6H8OQjVU
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRS9vtfjKp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCK9js7fvG
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HT12bsuLp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC62yXFyPn
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnut3etW9Ic
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CXoHVDuP1
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC4p9bYSkG
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TPADWrMut
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9psF6KOQp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JsMntVIMf
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX1odWtlPT
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJUxhmzfIT
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPNfYYaMc0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALk28sKEX0
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBFzez2CNZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEH0HOkcmu
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk32eAsrjcs
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN1i9borBn
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVLsdnMADI
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD1oOxCh66
　　『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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfZXkXofjY
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt9twkZXSh
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyWiN8FnRm
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGjjRDrf5Q
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W1pT1eSgy
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN8RE0CUZa
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqjZvK3CMZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjt2Ahj2tx
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZGJUOXY6V
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QbIKK0oLr
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWSZCaBL7M
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIokjaELUA
　　「……我不知道啦。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqCJS0x0Mw
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPs9IHaYDW
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteVN7i0Erh
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpDVB2P1Yx
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoWKrqnfk0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSnAhEdss9
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CWrygYzN9
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP9AuX0u3J
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMG0r9p408
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYsQ5sWwZH
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R7vlOEK8q
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99gDtXePi6
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXXoGjBTXE
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRfcdxDvjT
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q0wSWhXpX
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4FbEe3UV7
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnQkt9fLUW
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKLMhg9Eqg
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTlVIM8h1P
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOH12u5xzI
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtwbbMy2cZ
　　※377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY7eNloTvZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9MYLOdWBM
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27P3Pg06Fa
　　「紫藤……？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3nqQOfNHp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRexQoqeZDr
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraNMY3E7pr
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ4IJ5SU0L
　　「紫藤？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoD5LYAogD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHM3KMemB3
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCLTD0tTxQ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IlNLbv0EQ
　　「紫藤！」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyoWnF664v
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpcmAtSYoI
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4p37G3kfH
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2oFAWjk9R
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SL1cvi4KD
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZuFj0Kgjm
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpnSAtk73r
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU3RDCo1uZ
　　「……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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfhcQ03u8D
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUyd6nrD6p
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGaTHt651X
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstwVCZw67j
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYZhmMZFEd
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS9VVzK00K
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa57KUrMVXb
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDwyIfKKXR
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtZEuV03CL
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzHe09pb4K
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1H44epGLH
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoklYSMd1p5
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YWmPBmIT1
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel69GY1a1k
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlpq5OYgBT
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop9KGgHUtu
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXifo1Vc5fp
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicmL5MojGX
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQtXYu4vjZ
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmEWu1b2Or
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiXWAKgCCY
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboKOurtG2z
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNcxZCCPU6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt227o6tY6A
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcYn4TE6my
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmntsmugJB
　　不能再停滯不前了。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNEtoQRDf0
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm3XHPmZha
　　自己正成長著。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSbwn4Cpc6
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6rZBMxNC9
　　紫藤這麼相信。377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhSVvRhe1L
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyRFyraycp