當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iqTrBni9O
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6dWKevPcT
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyagFbbVip
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQN8R1r97H
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAswqWwhuBh
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Z6IjIZXS
　　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：325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG96xjTgHxF
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F8tKjbuwL
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwuu2O1lZu
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcEcIGYqYC
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1UiV6hAHa
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fqkloKCUk
　　「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。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTpy5jF9wq
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23IEq0LDQk

　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQekGKHEP4M
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIS5XHel1y
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUfgk2ECh0
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARPvlt34Lk
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5crOAxGVE
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoxdWMTQym
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCGQdKxJQ3
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtVQqZG34p
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS2TgHU6Wi
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOZST723BA
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG95lFyzhAc
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHzOLWXB3l
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxttgwFb7s
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEz3Tg09Bg
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M8xPXQgbM
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbVwDNdryX
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt83Js29hxb
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe4SeuaKyg
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmY8dodg9E
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzb0C1uAVv
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRllx6FrUpM
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjzuU79Frs
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhJTJx9AKG
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OF3znKkSV
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cpl0tVanW
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0yV0mN0tR
　　「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。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGk88OZpic
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2PMwyUJ5m
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9kiv6tuxk
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9a2pTKvTL
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc37sg63wgm
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rhJUMK8B0
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZD9rI72USG
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglduYQkUvd
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR78aOvq65
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw0HceOiOP
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aL21dvY8O
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhV3awqhZ7
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcjxOM8090
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fy0sJEoEX
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx2B7tyop6
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz859MYILj3
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFfp31WzHm
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfEN36BWLJ
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyqi0LhAMs
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhe2PaG1V7
　　「嗯……好。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkjToWYax1
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZiZRq4ND5
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKVFwhmtvj
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1bUePXs90
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELkI0Q28Qr
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW522c494c
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzck4Qs6gGN
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3KxO0zpDC
　　「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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyTekGnEEw
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ667NItRSM3
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcIvLQAdXD
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14Q6SfI8j6
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k79vn2pqL
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaQUJnnXmm
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq1tt8dhLK
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ4H3OSVIZ
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS49z9SHsHD
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03xMxUyDWb
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslfg6rwmrZ
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBfwxO3gW2
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsJL85pYY1
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD0OcUjplF
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsN0MGPI6r
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoO3VIB3rE
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoinTOhnBE
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpZVYLclhw
　　「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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwGdLzDI10
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsQ3FlPcRg
　　『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。』325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MRtif981D
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2KBVwL3kc
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04I4jDZPUG
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZK3QaifiD
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTU0VfvlVP
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnmt3zTrUW
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKjr3NneDV
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yhyElybHx
　　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？325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHcNWF3zSh
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uPJz29pMK
　　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？325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQRb0oniYl
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fuAEH0ovE
　　「……我不知道啦。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWr6nFX5qW
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KbqNuISOD
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA67qoUIS4
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl6PVyI27G
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13y0GoQtM6
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCbc9tXoS9
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqOgMIEcCC
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayie5GM4GP
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3X6ngEVOq
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyyqvOZEse
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur5jvU4l81
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt9EBMY1S6
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiphR0jf0P
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0E7vTqFmW
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowtAOYbciC
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8bff2t8Bw
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvhI2NrWlz
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtqm4qtccV
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37nce1Xe4Z
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QJPkMWNbO
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77wmLvaCyN
　　※325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ0IZ02usN
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYRdH7M48R
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNTK96KuO0
　　「紫藤……？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0rKMCtL2m
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuGGar2znH
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPnHDsZo95
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG3XrPMVmM
　　「紫藤？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmUoEba1HI
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2bifwaP0e
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQGJmWdkBk
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GaWCm43SJ
　　「紫藤！」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrtvRQnXNP
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPC75ggCru
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s4PTTA4Qo
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou7ZJB4yCX
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5ecpC5xAR
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkceCxfhRxg
　　「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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw9RMWOH2f
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmylKn6OgOR
　　「……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。

325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4agW83ecJ
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPriQFeD92B
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q4Krer2lC
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhFgywtbn9
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqb9sByd5g
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFVthIv1Os
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh9uCmRytz
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklvbUhtxTS
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZMaspks3q
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAXk3bumJH
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIabx4ZnLn
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1lOnR18b3
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgsvvpsA1L
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVlba38F1p
　　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？325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaZNKwa0LK
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox7R5AmyId
　　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——325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7F6JaYCEB
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVagPnRrlK
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LNjiYPog2
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkrpLiZWxF
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg2l1wcCUn
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYLwsZaStS
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTpoQHsYXt
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xBOJUaniU
　　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。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6IWnqovRn
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQjIpYuFoD
　　不能再停滯不前了。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfoq82AR1w
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSasouktXj5
　　自己正成長著。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkD1PnCZbn
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d1qrOsWT1
　　紫藤這麼相信。325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd8XvlbeCu
325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqVuip6bJR