當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMLfhSGKzC
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5umx9e61A
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vmi1NAmwN
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8ApPkTa0l
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XHFlpClyz
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsvRhyvtky
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VS7o42bbx
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTx7L7oF6y
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZkjGRaL0B
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmmrYZl8jl
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8RmOIdJQL
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdbv0acu61
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTu9lx3i9D
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98BSgAWQ88

　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3VVQYcUTz
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KQj4zcQtf
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8xCzo7d4K
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZmcnckMWL
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx2KCLDmK2
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4kYjbRZcJ
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs59YLMR59
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2gQjoFWN5
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ9tg8UV4Q
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCI9m6YTeD
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡherurG8k2T
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtOZZ1VctV
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFGW44I92k
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYCU2S0RVQ
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhboXUXHi0
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbj75jfVha
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7ffWnLI2t
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kUTbvGRWO
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavJM5x6LIu
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ea6ElS8m3
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwXDaHxHnT
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN1QIwLJ19
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aHVkjosYX
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsuPUF3ikY
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHXt5yvx79
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU6XPII5c1
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZcMOrCDfp
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPJv0hbJ4M
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3myHMBLkJk
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uz8YRAxty
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXddJl5qit
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIvH4dzuva
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUNchEs7nt
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzotrBKUlhR
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeEu3quXIi
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqw30iyjqO
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNroWgcoREr
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAZAOdeWmD
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA7KyPH4D0
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKA8E8brUY
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfIU32fALE
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXkLnaKY3e
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcqq6VAJHJ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgDFA8Sz13
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSYd0012bE
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYikgrIYRNp
　　「嗯……好。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIPI8nmqJO
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboz897F9Iu
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJ0mwfy9P
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WkdM3c02W
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZX3TnbKeF
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DRoYuQDze
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFm9ZNYlai
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpMpfiMFRl
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8yZ2ALGpa
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSZIIbojNd
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zOsKdXKM6
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7068jBLmpj
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlj4AgjaUe
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nDp86CfCe
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbjqo4H1Wd
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cOZgphquY
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKDwfwHWn6
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinhRtxZZv
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTzt2IogxL
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXYP3EN3SG
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKdjrTFl9R
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrA5AVe4Q3
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HCczaJPiK
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrsP0ndJoj
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwkcs788mY
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDEXj5cWUd
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqk9wojIQY
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HXdOe4OkL
　　『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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0kJp5js19
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W5rFVikjf
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxBvIZAtCE
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzyC6eBVxl
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW9AcYyZfU
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfQHLcNo5a
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY7o9F2OAv
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO9uqaAOwI
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxH1JSqptq
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA5d4q3ZgT
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUUnSdXCkp
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovkYUVZLOZ
　　「……我不知道啦。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFb2OXxkEQ
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNxnxkuRqe
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD2ZrG9ydw
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMllE4Gw4R
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYptW3phk0
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDPeEDMrYS
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTWgh5hnG8
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fUfNcfTYB
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjYkCJSiKc
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXltNSutO7
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO54jVoPJWI
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq9v3obhwh
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQTCyoXln7
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw3nkznQnL
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SNkenZ3Wq
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87A0HSbBic
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnkxmUn0Ci
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGTTZV9c6Y
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7rGIBQdIG
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6afA4h7LRR
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDmshDUqMf
　　※400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOez78PpZ2e
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rCNWCh3eX
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS14N0JTbgF
　　「紫藤……？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpjtCa4XHY
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FUZ4kXjS7
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Lu3lMPYi
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm2blW3wFD
　　「紫藤？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjT8c09O1h
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JJqZA9mkM
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcMCjZWQRH
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD5OQgoxrc
　　「紫藤！」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhYiWcIHPc
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrSHKHNn2b
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJWMO4gfrq
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yt6vZhoLD
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDAOvJmJ70
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa5xtsVHXJ
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OG7acj1m8
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtFUrPloCB
　　「……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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0mjLMq3Os
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZPtK4SLEv
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uCM5G8IZw
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWpm6a4aOU
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyUKhuSBW0
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEvxJ1mLzf
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgZEax1w5U
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FHMj1o6uS
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVMNi5jbN1
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA59KwxvZY
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV5vNieTCb
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1IKOmn3o7
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXO9HR1Sm2
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKN8jZrTQL
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQukAOWp6O
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMjdgfMmKH
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7EaDhgvta
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuGzQ5pUOW
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt7ypp5NL1
400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0joVWXciJb
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnR9jfXScF
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojtHVrzIHH
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVmsJ4eYYQ
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　　不能再停滯不前了。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWzkneGs3s
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　　自己正成長著。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVn8aupDR3
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　　紫藤這麼相信。400Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuQiajqj2Z
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