當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCzrw9CoFM
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdgYUaFVza
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCgoOAcRTQ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R6Xd2ZbXT
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxEwkH9Fne
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiQv7YnZ5b
　　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：400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWHRR7IEbh
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxarerfYVP
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmL8p2mRG6
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehKEw9gati
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2EhUjM2hm
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j2nQulXWD
　　「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。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EH7uE5TD9
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB9AZMYJKb

　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTn2rd68aa
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKzRhAQAzq
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytXz9D3AJC
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu8FrN5XCC
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD90xAT7nkB
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGguaH543K
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1R60pBKLQ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav4sZKYZDA
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgKKyPHf2Z
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfcOoA32OR
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGFbF3DbPi
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCkj1MiIRE
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGVPZ39y1A
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5JdzG8eK8
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytow4RIhum
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCohIc9J96b
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6TiBlQiks
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydQJ6wtc8I
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVRzyhmaQr
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyU9KzoP36X
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20tEX6SOZ6
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2pWwi0dix
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgJjnTkggS
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf94VrTAS62
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQYz1sonRC
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWF7TZqGdH
　　「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。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG9t7wPUKv
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIov4RFRTDG
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XmW99VhPZ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuqRnYuvLM
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKzkBFX1Aa
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVl6wSmZlZ
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW1ZC7g5en
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4y1WtvnHW
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeylR9dTkO
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHogFAwO3B
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtteh2Jc58
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcyo2Sz4Vq
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdIk6lH3HU
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7Gs6ZWQNZ
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvAGGQH2SH
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMc3zC26LD
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJpLdCzPNf
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGuo3z9ztw
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPXDCFqYb2
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSwQQ1Cdsy
　　「嗯……好。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mKL5iDdhN
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD8mUYIW2E
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUbCmCVEUH
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRnxIIj7cf
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS8icdbssJ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu16EfwF4C
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOe25Bkzep
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JSLTooXT3
　　「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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhzNHK3uYY
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y1qVyHsZq
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHooshul8Jm
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTy245f6Le
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfHsKY6gEd
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2HnXHFrYd
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSBbRnru4G
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOhr5JCuIi
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiNaKgsZ6j
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZD7eEZvZm
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xkPgaNU0g
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoVmHM7u3I
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWOz0zKqkD
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS2adAw2qd
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMYnOfy2Jl
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkhyx4QYsf
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbOzTtDIrN
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9emXM3eUp
　　「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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyR0u4EKeT
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBjqmorbGn
　　『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。』400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡda1HPkFryl
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZhqp0G3LA
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx5D1JBo6L
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ya5bL1LaU
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzzeRqDslw
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EduCnjAmm
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10XqOjylPZ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDOSCKoULR
　　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？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rO2mBn0EC
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfYkfYtHDY
　　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？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjofpy4AOFl
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcoDAXFsQl
　　「……我不知道啦。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRNjsrvKQK
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtz8KdSrRW
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xRSMbSDrM
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvgM6eqLzr
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh8G8mJ2VB
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUSy6xMDKo
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTEOyifpvY
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQMY3gAupf
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9ETaiu8WE
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhsWmVXnhx
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8srF6UtkFV
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZImSCPY2HM
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigAIX8vooT
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvX5aDOCr6
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b9BUntslo
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAz4MenfFw
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxddwuaKdo
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9lYJwTWwm
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyAcHxmQ0x
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9alhlVz5T
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOAcHolfDL
　　※400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5M04Q4Pi5
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYV6EkfisP
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHRIhPTCAm
　　「紫藤……？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwThW3T1hWf
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8c9NzLLgP
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdedzA3ulR
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrvrArsH0E
　　「紫藤？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZxAQlFRzp
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf8qS7vPwW
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTzIjMJ5N3
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnhOMJ9uct
　　「紫藤！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaRDLrBP3m
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gxHspUoHJ
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGkEsTHkw9
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrJJMRdryU
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c4li7XC0F
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRkQzaMK56
　　「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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQePBBy8jgy
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhJvqTncyK
　　「……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。

400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc4EbD7CHT
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH50ENyGtRd
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtF3s80bKh
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaeKqC3wpH
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJHpQtDedK
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFFtIGHGNl
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AwgPnJXYm
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLZVSdgoHb
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYkPyVMMwo
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtZAg55eIm
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNf1RWK8st
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RRjQKCP8j
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiLSD2a1SB
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcapQpkDen
　　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？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YuysyO7cY
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjoKdV9EpY
　　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——400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs3ky13Cjz
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5M6kfMqvZ
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8bZsGkcfP
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1AP2oD0q5
　　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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8gr4JrBDW
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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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04D5fQQtVs
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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。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe98grKkQh
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　　不能再停滯不前了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjssKNNM7D
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　　自己正成長著。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluTeJ1G8E8
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　　紫藤這麼相信。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5F2hyDaHp
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