當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqhttfET7u
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8Vq7XsW9m
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIei7vMdf9i
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXmhrmLLxI
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQCOjAiF8d
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahbF3BmoDF
　　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：383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcANMuOrMGj
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JKWGrzTdQ
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB4DpAykea
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAl8qHuZH9
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSd0aLjFx7
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkNYwFDI0L
　　「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。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimKrMz56Jd
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHZei7vd7v

　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79mi2cEj8p
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqR2ITzpKQ
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFHgAcmUT4
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukDQ0Wnvb3
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwBfTLuOlR
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvlOEv3Qls
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TRfggpGep
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNBqk3ZwhE
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuMlbF9mJa
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdToHkl0S0D
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftsyplHRlR
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYps3rHEMOd
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8lqRsDzd3
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF1MlxUz9C
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj2MT2xtmS
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OEGxjmrS1
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg9cqz0PC0
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4kFbEDwxl
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYR3Qv20vw
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1TsDwHhRF
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2Da14BgEn
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5roqR5nIWv
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvVLWauVe2
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1iwNbtRED
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1eUoj0uxm
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEmudDINHV
　　「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。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YOtjFFfRq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8wpxPFNth
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpDGkdnHBL
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KbkTuvWq5
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnzCWOOft7
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLxzot5sjN
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhV5Vc1Fpt
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw9u5Dlhb8
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra1Ck94V8U
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYsFqYv89s
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQQgNeLhHr
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYfhwCN89B
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20bsckM0jW
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoySjYmsCq
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxeKadcKyk
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3vhyLUzjv
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6PTfrHKnZ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lsAMaAjtd
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtZqMf3JNA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiB8HiCFk1
　　「嗯……好。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUeJoYjA93
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuiI0fZu1F
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzLASIXLR4
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH40HPpoZ6o
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaARD29bnV
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33CyluXSv2
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEzvCq2EGA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr4Zlj6l4r
　　「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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeYe8rTUH2
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD3cGF4sAg
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yrx9MrESc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79kprSopjH
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1svG0I9HS
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3hFIAKYoh
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cPUkf9s8Y
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutxOOF8SCj
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl90HUJF29
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuN63nJ5BC
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjjSWuvA7n
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngm6w7eqH6
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGx42c6g4f
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8Sz0ljfRp
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKfCioapIm
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3xHMkzRsU
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn5ZMA8UzX
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaiWhaqn9n
　　「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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0crx7qfeLH
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscuVDnvtfC
　　『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。』383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6waCn7Ck8I
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRo7iySYKZ
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkepnPVIbPc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXJnfKNSSY
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqJQSsMyNQ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEjAwYM4Ch
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKolMSJL1v
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2gv7wq8tU
　　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？383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcElbXEgC2
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKzbbLQQVq
　　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？383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w3WEVfexH
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWgAzkUNaI
　　「……我不知道啦。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yMWBtL5Z1
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsApJsESVHN
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN9xRR6NvY
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNgwnIQReo
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQliebiBUE
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmOWiGTHvw
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4agwVeU1i
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Y7Ywssu4
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPzo3kibca
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNh7oQ4I5I
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg98aj6K8B
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCj3lGYKKq
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6n9KzgJbw
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENUoWzw7Px
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv6xiC5s0i
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeIKh923Dy
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45glyl2Epo
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CMCh6R5aE
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytbrxysyuD
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqWWlY0ksj
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnY8XJmCCQ
　　※383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQM0jJz1ab
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLygszGXgTW
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcjsNJdoUZ
　　「紫藤……？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuquf9FYPFy
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6n9gtR0Ji
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwUIcVOAhK
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZNrYkyZse
　　「紫藤？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfXrb7DuNB
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6tVFh1TDz
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ8z9I7Ogh
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkskTlOT8U
　　「紫藤！」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopKsRLhB4J
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgieVpbJJuV
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CfVeyl3pZ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0JBZR7Pes
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59MkcHW4Wa
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3Y6fWIDKy
　　「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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkXtJrriXh
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8GRkwvC6I
　　「……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。

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMfPTGV5Sx
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmZLHF1Woc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jBzWoiDdr
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kBTRn57PH
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVeXLQL8yz
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLPdp5hHm7
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy9Jo6nUG1
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mlbpdptc8
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYk0HTV1Wr
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2dRdhRJxk
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmURqXMykc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6hPBupzCR
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtnTCztwnQ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IqsC2p0JI
　　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？383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSMUIcXwI2
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapTJtsMLDk
　　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——383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S27PMmh8h
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeClGeAAVmR
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklDxRzH2kq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB58LpeCmT
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9mVSZfWgQ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxJGpHWrjh
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDahMi1yN1o
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93WOnyf4wa
　　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。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN2RQPBSrx
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOw6lfGcN5
　　不能再停滯不前了。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42kvy1jqJ8
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnvEcJTq6P
　　自己正成長著。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8qF7bZnOg
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUNj2yApsP
　　紫藤這麼相信。383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOKihK1G4y
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JcYM1v12U