當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQhnhtvDQb
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybY8SOuYVV
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkMYmun4wo
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq17fPJGrQG
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hOpiSveYe
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxOC1oe3lt
　　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：349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn52xnupiyQ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh3xhirQ5a
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTpdGpEXOA
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6D96DWskG
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡierTsAZyZL
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMMvL4lch9
　　「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。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu3vHfrXNo
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO0qAZeVUA

　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7M8bX4lNr
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHYyveWLQa
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnMvO4DKgW
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83859OVjua
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2yPLKPfIm
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw0v6vhQyp
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJLl9T5KsI
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbJBppBM2U
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpARX0IK9t
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSr4vY0I3f
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvZLlurtwN
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGTY3pyD6L
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoghwuPBNC
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3vYuN1ycM
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ0n5OWM2w
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVg1ypMABe
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWaqDDmkUg
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStIXG2NOe7
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aDjw1GyDQ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rnHMN4qrq
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAT7sSmfRs
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uT2LaXOMB
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NDA52BEqD
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0HkheMDm9
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiClLstK74
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpmALPOmiK
　　「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。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpiYRZdgYF
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTzn69wo5j
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZvCnCwhMt
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12b0fyN74i
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS8pRY1h9I
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlX9wfi5GO
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWIDkMFhTZ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNnLi8f6sY
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBKOHPx919
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqdBIubNp5
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx2FURWTjJ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRsfAXGVSd
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lh4HtiABv
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwzU3LjCn6
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah7YTlxEc9
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiSncAeEBs
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0bEnoRIWm
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTutaSL7uKr
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WVDVAqZDN
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusHDgQW2Uj
　　「嗯……好。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMgwu9mkLh
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClSNy1NLb5
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5B6lFoVwA
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl3WdiiE8e
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgNKzCmSc5
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSeAcTrp0j
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLICDb4fbic
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcjELw8ewt
　　「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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk0XgWTFFw
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYd0OSd25h
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4HfixXrru
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhCe8zTOA0
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy75UF65blO
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzA3TCcqvI
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9kPY2TkRY
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U4f1Cdkbc
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzI4IoSCih
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSdqGcgQQm
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQIfXaFeCI
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVoSKaKh9m
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9JNGFLk15
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCi8j8UZRL
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyXSYPAhsU
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewEO8oUTRJ
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd46MiTflO
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9qwPKn89o
　　「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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClYyaRRxgf
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3Zzh3dRix
　　『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。』349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3ujQ1TLQd
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljIpGpjmPs
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4m8xJXc4O
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHFqHxqeEp
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4YJ2GniJb
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1VuTm6srf
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUoJxUrEkF
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY9MNqzIyo
　　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？349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbYaSL7eVF
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3jnBre9sC
　　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？349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ucDUnh1bR
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcXecVP5nj
　　「……我不知道啦。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerCqAhQ5JV
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfHrNmjWAT
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMHqzYELvV
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6x07MFEiM
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Oe78VhCcI
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1UBqYrxDJ
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uiccV9CG4
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCp6pw5WLc
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcghc4As8e
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqRXMzEXF5
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUDhrqQfsE
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJyFQgpOVu
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnnEbuIp13
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4ZYmDk0AN
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8plrQ03i9s
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWCNOuHnKg
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5IYuOyQAD
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TZbI8Iyy0
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDR7SgF83n
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsFmLNe0Pc
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2APzRP0oyq
　　※349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPrImBcEkL
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sMIsQshAy
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixfavslwGC
　　「紫藤……？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1LqI4G494
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrJNEvgYeC
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8mA9m0xrK
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRmbAqpYPW
　　「紫藤？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0aPgxkwOC
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0MiBKyWde
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIwiFjHHxc
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfOte94mSs
　　「紫藤！」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVH7UwZOFq
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhHUffEmi9
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCnMSmBZ1q
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiuldo1epC
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8niJSQWxc
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHvA2IMO3l
　　「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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcVJyYquEa
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQSgwjXae8
　　「……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。

349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQj0Sxf8vu
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRSj3IOXVj
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSkuczpqnU
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LJcpMs9TS
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1zezYDe6h
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJxh2U6x1L
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRXpyfvBG9
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwddFrX37Fv
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfmJA3kHmK
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTh2B0Y91n
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJMvS910lx
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04PW3Y4wbn
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVVcWYo2M8
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplVi05AkbO
　　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？349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7uLfpd6vi
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡediAjxwIos
　　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——349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOOKHxZhOH
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD9vuXcZns
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU88EQGArf
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp4uQNj4U6
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT0Tnq3pZX
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMhYCVLgL8
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx2Guntx2K
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj66do8zv2P
　　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。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhocoqg4Dtl
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcApC6noSIk
　　不能再停滯不前了。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCKZ7R88Z6
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGUdIUTX0I
　　自己正成長著。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlIUPRFPBU
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSvpO52HNH
　　紫藤這麼相信。349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKXQLVhgQF
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6O2fNw5uo