當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL1CyObAxY
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJc3x3mLMm
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJm8E2haTz
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pr3rqdqib
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW1gApS6Y7
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnK6D1wSu9
　　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：374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL9aFrYj4F
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSGj68HW2V
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7Y0haky4Q
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvka7JfigY
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55SVzBQcUL
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDPm8uYWx2
　　「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。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyQZlzP4oJ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tCq8i0ssk

　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4KOXQ1fRO
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQfsdB67Oz
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFniWMutmG
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvnMY36U7Y
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHAKS7Upid
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt6J6drdAx
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjJ5GYMpLh
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhLb7w5MkC
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU2Rt5yU7T
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnlwf1B2LD
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKqFQTWZ5s
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkTAs5wxUQ
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Gdtw88pM
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtaYwFZGe7
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr8RxJyYoI
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NMj9PMAbT
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYHyEuJgHG
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4jwNoBPnt
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGaFHYV5Rt
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKBDuJVitB
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE8fYyLkYS
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9yS8jJ4bg
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCZHMuEumH
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnngyAj9JNm
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRP7D93Ie6
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2oOHwFpts
　　「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。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nfau7RzoQ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSnXKFeQPF
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimLVVyeiL0
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnChkhxwGsT
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5mclKV8H1
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLtsJ0m0V4
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbeKBmhaAa
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbfY73RDPK
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJdbVqjGt0
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXCAP2OU6i
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSold0KgaiS
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHylP48PMM
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOKEMABz7W
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRVsCj1dAf
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN0VqEHUl3
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtVQE0amR5
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkMOnElOXH
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzJmcc9MrC
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQUFDkrfoc
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawdDgMXMJT
　　「嗯……好。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgEDCd7L04
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA4HnjCHHz
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jM1C9vBif
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTqxfUFraO
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SpMB1J6g2
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr28XOzut2s
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS67q9sOGe
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkreWNUzjxm
　　「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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DWRdQlFbV
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNAKEMbWUP
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g0Qur5e1W
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHY4akZN72
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xANeFn4Hl
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwva8IN1roE
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVMc3gKN5L
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUPmxQxjGl
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ybifnz1Bs
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtqr3qxp6I
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHOQBteqIH
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdSJbpAhyB
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAzBxdwkQh
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAElYaQSKS
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaCIol09vx
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMH3ZbXYeM
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2OH2bSIKt
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IWm81rGIz
　　「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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxQDOkJ4du
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApnBKuOmo5
　　『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。』374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLgnF6jLr4
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdcnuCk2ti
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGn4R3Fmjs
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoucxBp9v9P
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ITwa5GSe1
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDG1CwDqvf
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmLvnasr2W
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgsTncik94
　　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？374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxEhkT6uAo
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduRrYqNhVk
　　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？374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnQINgsQbh
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7So3A9Kwc
　　「……我不知道啦。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wTZprVXt5
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreYgKvOjEn
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHhsWaDsdE
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5J7FuYmlH
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoYzr7WNSK
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl8LHooPBC
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyHmEJ6RKd
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOHigoY5GU
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3NGtJ0BLp
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm55DVdAzDn
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwArjLbXptk
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9KDA4N29m
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf3jqyg8oD
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrYXIALzLK
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBKg5xkYZW
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vWC6hMFsL
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0V0ZiqJ5G
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0XUnOq21C
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yl2XYvHTZ
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOgblXOd3z
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r2hZpDTD9
　　※374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRO62JmIus
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5QR2kAY2i
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRkhuUz5Dn
　　「紫藤……？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcv2dzTvd2
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpIiuzrEsl
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yRr1fMves
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv0AeVYCDX
　　「紫藤？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW3pcO314F
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn4nzeG7BK
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3Fkp1THEh
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI2njKXZxA
　　「紫藤！」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwuCv5oSwc
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRYS0OrXpR
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdXGmq5SFa
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rj1ZrCfeT
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYgeIfoOW4
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7e9uQGX0P
　　「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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIVaeCNcft
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpWuxI6Yef
　　「……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。

374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKNMz5uq6M
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjsYnv2L7X
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zszqQBB4p
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvxU8N1bWX
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk5f0VAFZC
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYtFWX9dhi
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgD9AjSHC7
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lNsciOpTO
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAL2RcS2WO
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS6LeQmR0q
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIhBXn4Vpo
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMsJuYOcJ0
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppm9ZUDc43
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWH8f0djcS
　　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？374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADjl6CcCm5
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJKJbRUqN3
　　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——374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNoFzk8a2L
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlINSxi79b
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6laLqEOHz1
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGbdmxp6UN
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pap9eRxth
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGa3DGDDNl
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtUwaWFXlb
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVAxz60mNV
　　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。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQPZYYnA9L
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bQzzc6TwM
　　不能再停滯不前了。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZyZYoNd3A
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fuS9lFWIL
　　自己正成長著。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bo7EDROtV
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuQs67EJZp
　　紫藤這麼相信。374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiz84HvdaI
374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofSm4dyEOZ