當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WuK3uUPbt
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ7gF1y64N
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplNt3vMCnd
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4u1IOrnhD
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqryatkE0a2
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB28AlqBAR
　　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：375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFAl4nkgu2
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HEXtrJw7M
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKanD5oEtXc
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy7n9fYsAn
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbQkdJXjue
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5PE8GT4ac
　　「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。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe08z0nGiLA
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LZ3sk9hID

　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoxh7UNBkr
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo607hO02z
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNfpowMEGp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtul93aWYmG
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAX7RLVsFH
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTLsZKG94V
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWQUINDcWM
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU57fLlvTK
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftHg2qs3OS
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49AWuPBNjZ
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3MADhFyCd
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6viMqwynGz
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNyldiGEJU
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYl3PLgtKL
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUFGEyBQd7
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoIqjHjewJ
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmKK27ATgm
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wbkmo97IC
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gnl9kRkMs
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxgW9xiNdr
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVZ7UOQsfZ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlJmE22SHc
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL6iFJVxfM
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpixXdz5eL2
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonVHTf2zI8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJMZoetFBe
　　「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。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSnr39tXoG
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauTVKwNqvl
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLboc3q64Ly
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHYbzLKSWt
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvMICi4Pvt
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mj9R6nvwF
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMgxT3FeoV
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE9TIETamX
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa476dkLfF
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHcj7Ha62V
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJN0lC2OGA
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xrP4iAv5J
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7omMB8BFK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbvohy6bcW
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSe7MjEqIT
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXl6z3bEvm
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5vkZ4sSmp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73R3kAqzmn
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYkcAEGIFE
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyebInuzxDt
　　「嗯……好。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM996fH0vk9
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsmQF17DOF
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKkS4ijKCr
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiIGs354BV
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOymU64ucO8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73TlZ5uT0p
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbwrvDNYsR
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlppy5B308b
　　「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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKXBGojYYf
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuZYj7hzof
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X6iNh2Ibk
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJDvAY6jgx
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubZTKDjkgq
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BPiNC7lCG
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53UZnqj0lK
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DDOaQFTmS
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpqdkD50RI
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX0AK5Dghb
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb23IcBnAT
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWnvCN8GKE
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDziGohQyY
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPoUjHGxeE
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJuoEyS5r9
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwjUqGu5mB
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o279GsBa7
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofQajbddAI
　　「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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBs6OolvbL
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTZM1Layco
　　『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。』375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRlj6rOnE8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ140sy2Sqft
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTvzMeTVBc
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIwTXVzvrS
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FadaX1cYH
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrVsHZ5yRi
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt52HO1Y7V
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDujEiS3nx
　　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？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT8zGLuyg6
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnhsyjxMKH
　　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？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRIPQDfIOQ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg6WQattQQ
　　「……我不知道啦。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNghC9ggZGv
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96aAlyv84M
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIUsAagw0z
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaCnJ393kJ
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmjmP4Ccx4
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX0VLHP5kH
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBOM3khJtn
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfz09DmX6v
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSuHXvH83V
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEuD7K6XA8
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lzvwibc4u
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1SBq9Mk3c
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IPBsmBAgv
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFnSuFSvNx
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvEJR6xHOO
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWPyOn6ir9
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMuNxzC0gd
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUem378NUO
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWSfRE2coj
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVHEaFekic
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUEkYEXbZr
　　※375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLC7K5jEoV
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgGmonccUF
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpjcHqT3rK
　　「紫藤……？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY9SAxrCAU
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlySLVTJR47
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWNXdbe6I6
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m842UI0yF
　　「紫藤？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHUwecz5HJ
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQqf9AJ6Om
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvs3jBYhQh
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOPiimgkTg
　　「紫藤！」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTbnIew1PB
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXw5v2DUQ7
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH6wv0yMUB
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdaeBmPZ63
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOGrag8WCm
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LFkjOeBth
　　「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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fvkySu2w1
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYi7qluux5
　　「……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。

375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipqyUyqBz2
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqoHKURLnw
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK2NxxS0Zv
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexqyxrZfYR
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN70oYcuAhH
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykAz56VLt8
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DtvZrtMIB
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5WE06yyix
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0ZXacVkAe
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP50ISm4Kqy
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16qRNjRXJW
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvRmMnUo9H
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2xQDUjbRC
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCFGxclqUa
　　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？375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWzw4Jwmzs
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EIrQyo9ct
　　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——375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDYyww7Qmp
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR2FaUk663
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs70DE2GfO
375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFwE7vDnw1
　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtO3cxos8D
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　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sNnlluFdc
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　　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。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi07upxJ0L
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　　不能再停滯不前了。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr5YAr0qSu
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　　自己正成長著。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMS15EfHX8
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　　紫藤這麼相信。375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv1b4AzKY8
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