當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqnZNxk7zN
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinjekDUchF
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKEEfFkQMB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr8YRbLb5R
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cW38RHKeP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX053XVGZNC
　　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：406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI948IFF1l5
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN2psgqhox
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0agRHRfcr
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgSSiDRre3
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh2dtJugRe
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVUGbzhdGr
　　「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。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQilBU5cC0O
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSOyP79ejP

　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIKl7ysZIb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Cr6i00tUY
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhqtjDR8FU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQJ8el2wCh
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFEbSKd389
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0AiMB50fg
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycwLZHgoZn
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWLrnRBAW8
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi3nA9sIzp
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahl470nWJF
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4okBNZQz1
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlTAf6U95U
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaavB2fsQD
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9v7Kzihrz
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu88nj8EEj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJWru60DZa
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc27JAS6ui
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTcWaiCnBB
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPegnQDQXyx
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8JuCwbeaP
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qs0gVw1xA
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq1YDjAxsO
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSsB3ZZzO3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsG1mv8ube
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw2PpYKz9S
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5t1jn9r94
　　「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。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL7q5JCTF0
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9LNtqJ09u
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFw2kKc1ym
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7CXNU2apz
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGC1r6G235
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y3vGIgRe0
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOWE1AJUpU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPgz5jYp7u
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbBgo9IvTs
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqrGyKCJwk
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡernuDT5HQu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9RAFUK6FV
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshuXJDPzDR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnPtLA2EiV
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeFctso50a
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsHVdgcnTG
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQtiIERXsC
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl6hRq02AS
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsp580lKoJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutBWTBJjRr
　　「嗯……好。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLASYDp5m0
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG0xAahtPh
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0OGQEj5qS
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs68QH2QQ8J
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJIFCJHPsz
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY6WzgYUnJ
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49whES1ZGJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGqoBtwR3H
　　「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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfSAckBk8j
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu6cySqGa8
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YIrHwlHzk
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8lGs7WecX
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltLaEaEur0
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYVJ2DuDLQ
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UBNtjxaQG
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5711GRvkUc
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJGyqaywxY
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PYANOkWLT
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2aJ7D3aKm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSdCNZymua
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGjP81G70M
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFTYOYHZjG
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYnm8Xm7aH
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4oKdA4dbc
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF0hksuM9v
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP3Q1KtQYN
　　「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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezwfdS9nao
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUlIVOMqXd
　　『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。』406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKK5DLcrZM
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeQIGBj7Zm
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhGwB89jQb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR5DtMZ2hy
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkYJophqft
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7yK2kCwME
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h1L2p0tBr
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE1ueZRute
　　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？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVuDmqyFCm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZKfMxeS4C
　　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？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxq4J7EaL1
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFYv4liYgx
　　「……我不知道啦。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAVnqQrFYe
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7mJwFbWAv
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7xOk1l5vB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNHhjNl4Cu
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuCUaaDdlz
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpzu8YWFLj
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA3joJXw52
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxa2aZ9cYX
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5tchHUT7b
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UvlFsIUYU
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosaGn3vkNf
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryWGcrJKO1
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhv67MsLRi
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzc1VyXu6z
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeAlksBVin
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGMi7x5zCN
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8fYECKeUZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELQqmkuZsR
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EnqZoNC0v
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rx4xuvD4H
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgk9jAMZq2
　　※406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVUL5yFVbR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDgHu1nUGE
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiQ9XI7iSj
　　「紫藤……？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibNwkN88Aj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9XxkDV36Q
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TOFzHdwSu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCh4wN0kaQ
　　「紫藤？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRuBvhpCQO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunN9DURr3C
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKeSbD52ku
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1TX41er8T
　　「紫藤！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtiRYGH26o
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctSje9wNMO
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0zjw3WmOo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NHwqoFGL4
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwoIotnTl8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yY7nbxw6f
　　「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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpjYygpsgq
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnCpHuSHpx
　　「……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。

406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS9z7zxeHJ
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ryushtimH
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlgs4xjwxF
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiFqSVFlyB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdr6Hh7lxP
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgQgu0WDds
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC8x6SiDqq
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Le76bYGKZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxabtCRHTIL
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHpVJhTSvh
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yYuFSD6Zz
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIBRbvMVef
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOAlOunebt
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRHrpvyTy6
　　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？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sVSmnaYlf
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uo3XCQVpa
　　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——406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeHQNJx8uR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO1Jki7DtZ
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr427IBaji
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTbER3t21e
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2izO6uTTE
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWNGjrMAeg
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj1pevx00G
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwtbYIPQW2
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9XXBndf4t
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbaT3Fhr80
　　不能再停滯不前了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqn0ToJONw
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HP6iBKCg0
　　自己正成長著。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB9Rkaptig
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLvqfvJph5
　　紫藤這麼相信。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0qeLmcdJV
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HGNwbWrIg