當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQgJGxbDhY
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsUjTzXHTC
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3taDYOIgO
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctyQQhiFvf
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny1qVAGMzN
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP2SStp66E
　　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：395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRzr7Trd6U
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMthhIZ2AZ
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdew4M3sih
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvxgiAI1s6
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAineqh6t9l
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrYWvWvq0Z
　　「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。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6BQ9d5iWz
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ToCfLaqD9

　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprU5thb5bk
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJyy0d8Q5S
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutnjamev1b
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpUB87Czdu
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0HMCTWl9k
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl1WkjI4jU
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH3fUrkeS8
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUhAd4PKA8
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm3dQkKX4s
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2mjtZzy5f
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F2uPulvGy
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDdTIxPwBc
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyWeM8l8es
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOr34kPvdK
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSU6LtZPMR
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElm1c7RyjF
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUEoBLImcC
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3fKEl8yID
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpo30QXjg5
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uR4CeCAyc
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hSo5luHFU
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgingkSFB23
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSHc3X0ZP4
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnPcksSpws
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGWeMfAc4o
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA6NWqdUee
　　「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。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNeJrR7KR4
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13FvKg9Qwq
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ6QJBR4tp
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEiNcNEcYp
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEYtEJ5t8k
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPXyWWapEG
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUEEM6I8nR
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYEkWYkp1U
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KxjzHn9xM
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iUPLM9h2o
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NZmeQ3Ad7
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMreeIYzNNO
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOJ03ZnjHj
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rLDFlljeG
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvORIopYC8z
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYnAOnGqzY
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaM3MllSrE
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0TKxJX9oC
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqA2xkanOp
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gVsPozoNr
　　「嗯……好。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqQd7OQa16
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39yESFSSWA
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09Jlh9h26o
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcyHnpCgCA
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGARrra5hdo
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpnX0SjECn
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYx60mZhdX
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRXRZmC9pK
　　「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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp7FFkch25
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd9XVJ2DfN
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CsBBKIcC4
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm0lIDh3tJ
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA2mSmQU7T
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMpXdulWUy
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwJFuBmnIL
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcoROiFeiN
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh8F9fY2EX
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUadfUyWCiO
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV7aUln2NE
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWANN61Ldho
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiRvHh8xwS
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgV69cuOAX
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4JQiWQlwq
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9tytAIKOF
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7V4j9k8gq
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLpV90ZwxX
　　「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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt6Wv8J97P
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAYYU7txka
　　『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。』395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXlJ4imcU3
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkuezbcmF4
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfReS0k6Hp
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0llRgw9cjJ
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi0eLzzR2K
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZGdgVkSpc
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfklaMFnbm
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd15iaTESTG
　　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？395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSxgjRA06O
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj3SSq4pGu
　　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？395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCdb9o1HBn
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwGGpB42wm
　　「……我不知道啦。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXP53V9Y3L
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Kz2kNMIzM
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqKet3dWfO
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe97b2PLakh
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlewHFQreF
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0BbICG399
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ0azXA8CU
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LVcqsIYav
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQMolC1Y8o
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzIKgwjOCa
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxmKnCWTdN
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpClfIzKzlC
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJqIUjxP3y
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUXC3xev4s
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodS9GfCsqF
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxDXyx1LrG
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefx9kGictl
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJQyemAX9S
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLpMjwoblo
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFotVAvLQO
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTzgHwXdBO
　　※395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6KwOADCF7
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qIbiRq0Ma
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5ClRhZgLH
　　「紫藤……？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUPOoCVq3h
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlPRAqTGX5
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPe8A3R78w
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23tNbBlFeL
　　「紫藤？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW5Bq9blVz
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mbwuJFIHH
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOErc3iTFP
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XJfJ8rzV6
　　「紫藤！」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzIcwygEGH
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiqdykh5Ml
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C05kV8rha
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62IGleCpWF
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4uv0duq0p
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NPQVdgUJ8
　　「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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGRC5rQ2qB
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XMqLqsWrW
　　「……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。

395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljjs95gTzM
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs8KuMvVub
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8yBXobfNp
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXybzwnD5Kz
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6n1G9P4km
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2fgmETh2l
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIHXQB2bzb
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONFoRKWIqJ
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASRHuaqXGD
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnusy12rz1
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX42yU4cBq
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MJ1fdlOxH
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4rbLxj4pG
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMeAhQHfLB
　　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？395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21SDFnN3fl
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwdAEcV4KS
　　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——395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqk0J6GxQj
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jVDEaP7vW
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajvCFw4jvx
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKLHX29x2T
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydGph3NKQC
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJZyBpVmIX
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQSp8FXEIl
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHH7M8abWv
　　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。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLZhsfkydB
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkFBJtVz7k
　　不能再停滯不前了。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDCmYI3BL8
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdobkZ5LA7R
　　自己正成長著。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Dpqq9hzf
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9syL7Vwee
　　紫藤這麼相信。395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpvBVALbbO
395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFeXUATuOD