當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqpuzfJBMs
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRSRiJGV3p
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSYPlNz7yf
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz0h5Hr8sr
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KZfdbJTUb
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XwPCbndNL
　　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：315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3IaGfsCBT
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsRuI763Re
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZU0tEWgHR
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6gFjteEj9
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtkpcjE2To
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9UGGkDWSY
　　「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3MRxMip9n
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZQmsNjjk9

　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG6tpoAATv
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjahlFP6Jze
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhjY3BC85w
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxdmHfP63N
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODFAtp6dMl
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXYQI2qSsk
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3tPhckIFW
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld8IyAN0zw
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4wbAloPeK
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoQX1jCC8N
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRYUEQBU6Z
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmizntqyQOv
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc1qORHw4z
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq8O7MBUhA
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewWobuIYPB
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6ebm69H5B
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58ZnOEIY03
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh79RXgvvN
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6yd75mGhG
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEumKqohad
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnqV4W1nYA
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlye8SDS3oD
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L03vlOV69
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ966tTWQ2Wd
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeik6t8Bjdi
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYpaA12001
　　「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8Ws8MWiCA
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6iuJqEu2Z
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrBzw9QEnb
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AaFG7xtzU
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPljfAGARxs
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VeYBw7h31
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJcYaAcBkv
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWBwxWmldS
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi0n9gY6Jw
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHiVGYKFik
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdKjvgPyeM
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIBZm56TT5
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z3x7eEyZg
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFQYuAS9Tj
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhfN6UNf6e
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDGyytqkWp
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtbNFizGmN
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4kcBNPxhr
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3H03Rpywa
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlYDaVRtwQ
　　「嗯……好。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTWLMyKcPA
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVHYpLvmU6
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnFUMbr7OY
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUF92lmDPh
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu8yhLnAG6
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbltjdnt9wr
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4450IUaZJ5
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDzHEFKMzO
　　「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRiMTYhW9R
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ABpHOHtHq
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq20vvamZJq
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBFLMsPTi7
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2klP83OvCd
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIUL7dnzfe
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmQTfaEWn1
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN40MTNYlT
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwchjgVzGO
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjypDbGpmtd
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie2oOt4Xvq
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8nszLEn1B
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViUMsKK4qO
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4erli4mY1
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtb5pHwglPe
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o2UagfdeG
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI7dG0IiQV
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTZ2GxWZzH
　　「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHPE1TQqMb
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k79kgQMDA
　　『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。』315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM69UNwFrk1
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GnTVs7Bsm
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyex8BKgu1
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jfSMTEy1J
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoDv9UCxNH
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9Cx4MeSmL
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghf1vOQjc5
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE0bQqtzcR
　　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？315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCi3dIJUhS
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokih7hvDAa
　　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？315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8zxnja9gm
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQWnl7eQ9X
　　「……我不知道啦。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFshbi6Afd
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrpiRjFw4f
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaENlX26HA
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUk1rhIbB6
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLME9V2DnN1
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfk4FqgDE9
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2pWRka28j
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22QLEMtCOW
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx6v9kTIKJ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoqU3qhOFw
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw1UItDLqw
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSFsqRnrci
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPZjeKdwfC
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswXCno63rF
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTALyxxDit
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViBe8qjRvw
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rSUe1R6fm
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJQOl7lb3q
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcJNCW8tIL
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ITJYjMujr
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYCacGLxB7
　　※315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqypUkof4t9
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQqASZ2jCd
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUgH8Bpw3r
　　「紫藤……？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9P9fJbpHU
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWRsvhRN31
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMWxcoULnz
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOSFv9j10P
　　「紫藤？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp3dGBRkOe
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgEWXwwIhD
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl14iTbY2O
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwbE6EcLyh
　　「紫藤！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Je8KrlLxS
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXC498lxaD
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAFgjVV0j4
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0JnHmC95K
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO1rmzLszp
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2mf80PUAZ
　　「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXvna0Dhwh
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV4JYi3AGg
　　「……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。

315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKrfa4Wkl2
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCQWlryUFq
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbxdmv3LJQ
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye1tYKmP5F
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vk1d1iTcl
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw5dyWuecc
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K1oqrPblm
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKuWyERQzM
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xoX2mqbO0
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhzIafyWeY
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcV3BbwPvJ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTHtFCjVyE
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3exHNy9Q4
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yocE8mYcm
　　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？315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf09ZwjdFXj
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLeHJkK3qm
　　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——315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMS8IPBLio
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t9VUK6SxP
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUrUxEtrcq
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5FS8AW4Wq
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo3w1wYptv
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAPg5DF6ni
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ99A5lSDz
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSoxbAuCMq
　　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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhpC3iFnOm
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuAPJ7nDk9
　　不能再停滯不前了。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltOMcvkY3y
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xVAtPIFbn
　　自己正成長著。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjfQh19rPY
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQzvST6bFZ
　　紫藤這麼相信。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxzLdwjn48
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK48wBKgS4D