當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2pTsBABqZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3k6VdPxWJ
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYTr9tVbxB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWTK2cTK0U
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqkcJupFMv
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNYzADo6Gg
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7cbI2Z7GK
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bMKXS5enV
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p6OCIcLJK
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcec6XLfHu
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCOc91zT6H
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kziLaT71f
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZvgeHhWxj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMnNXE8HEQ

　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZffEHbXhr
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFKNYbheSw
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMhN3CxbFc
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLULSb45dMU
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbxBZ8Rc9U
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNpGOTeWWs
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8wKUQ6nF8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrc2vEjScp
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9nRSJaVG6
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRbsmFBsKy
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXMkwRak5B
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNrdDNepRx
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOdoRWWXKY
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXCO6WgruO
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6CGI7eAt3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMUA1O7gY5
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqNed9HaNA
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANpJOAhX6q
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0dGiLW2yo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30CSZe1Y8M
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4hfFXjrXb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VzNkkhKRd
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh4rGf32dk
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59HcRuCplJ
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEqpgcfiZ8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSNA5A4WVu
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5KVKiMP6P
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iXTMifp64
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGrehdz6UQ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNYsUhpAPs
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZD6tVBWzX
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5Ij5c0cJy
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGwxpkQYIA
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLSirsuYST
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWB6WaJ9eB
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYDstj2BRc
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20q9sGM6n2
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AKeBzBBpn
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGwDcCFemV
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRHgavecvc
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnvI4kQ0BP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdtPKuKtZL
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFdLgfcWfn
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWxd7r2lwU
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7FzDeSxec
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9unZqooZAK
　　「嗯……好。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9fPfMFQiu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NqjOaPF8K
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YrBkXZ6WH
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DuNnUko6Y
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3H791xqDz
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DFx18G0WA
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvavg9KGZEu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN6E2sbfra
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwHuUNnURg
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYccoJYkGWy
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMZVfVQsBO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGfsFPoXgo
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqXQnclZwW
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEIhNxQi1u
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZdxVi0UQv
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ3WY0rUBr
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRdlYiDnur
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnd3rYgXKi
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPaIyVkfbs
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInCwThxbrS
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6bXGfvNLb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84tgHAUVSB
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL0tQlQxrj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEM1ZdPlvq
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8pn6tPa9G
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3jCa8QU62
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUK73aFFy2
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSWpRd0rV4
　　『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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5MhcwHaYx
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqanF5XSUmt
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc2ZxeBlQX
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQpg9uozO8
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosroeAUNoy
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7GysPV3WP
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpP7alU2Ea
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDgYytP7lm
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEDIHDd6yU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivTCOwg5cN
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXM9JTdW7M
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bp2p8cHJt
　　「……我不知道啦。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtzuyYIPfW
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4KNovfrmS
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv2LX1kUP1
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yLwPpchyk
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgmqZ6xShF
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0sRuEDkXc
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvkzabYtxE
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn60puAQL0i
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cCvbYa4WT
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZwOrJES9d
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIelrQZgqg8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbypl5CqL7
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIidC3WtTEu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS8e5DE4aB
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvwI6W9ncm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQhnUCUmL3
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dljIXEAs9
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0PAtrwoZQ
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LhPlWyHxC
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2onxHMLgMf
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLTw2qAaZb
　　※406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhm1QYXyou
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDsBeSIwPO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtq2BY51Le
　　「紫藤……？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnrmiEIYhf
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUhOTzVVkR
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfXBtwVx92
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylRdBNkp1p
　　「紫藤？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH19SJbCmmm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTm8xKJt4z
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyss4tUZOW
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdjIXU198A
　　「紫藤！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIrHyk7Yvq
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb38Ds8UAxu
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNAZwY6JY5
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe8tLDbKbz
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMY1uunkWh
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDHE6TKtrC
　　「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd5vt35v5l
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YdFnkcbv1
　　「……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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARgX64WDSK
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1YROdYtEI
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsfvdCZGcy
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpO0HN0cvZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv26JEGMVtI
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaTeFgF4As
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5stE8sq7w6
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2c1w3snst
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE8OAhWdoH
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBIFP2JqAp
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡce1WaZcxQY
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvOQAybAXg
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzgG1ly7Uc
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3cO5zLCgD
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHMgZGasYM
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWOwKfrQfo
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbosgsuoUE7
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE421Iz4QIj
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47szUpPFGU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZViDY4cpU
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GxOYSWNoD
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL4LKBhApu
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpctqIFDPvw
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACq4gNDa57
　　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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z2in3lNUA
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrEus5SQnj
　　不能再停滯不前了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtGqxCIkbl
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsHrKcMKoT
　　自己正成長著。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Jw0Rl1yBh
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzatrjOZNny
　　紫藤這麼相信。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NE1URhUI2
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC1Pt2MCHJ