當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnuBl5QaZN
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVAcUeS1JZ
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvE5IcYfHc
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzSRw5cLbk
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIIyr6Quii
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uDPobb9ZY
　　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：311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoh9tAFIv4
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0fPSlKwDF
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOKYuW7w2w
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT3jTfRIdu
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVhdYZDwtq
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90A4OyQP3l
　　「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。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn5Acnuay0
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczvtAkoKFk

　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqTSEvpLfK
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmw1Xf7fxc
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADEPPmZ7vq
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedSUhNzh9B
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZPoMW97cO
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5LJ3wnQKj
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVqpkSHNBK
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEIsY8zBz5
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJaNrdsJB9
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8KFXxrmBQ
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JkxPE5cnx
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NbGmuDWFh
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQSoS1iAhC
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G8eMAJYgf
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rCOx0CVis
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoIDKPeGIH
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRZy3ct926
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTj4jCfctD
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRMhTZ0lrC
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AUnCQEsuS
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwnbkkPQCJ
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZcNSFkCJo
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcnbC0gu1M
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQPnNNwWaE
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuIgrnJyIP
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QWSJPcrSG
　　「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。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZNl1ghkWk
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstB7qrqupE
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmJpdm9vef
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWKTV8sTVI
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2gy7i0F6I
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna1fd28BzZ
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcmM9eySNm
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX2hN0JiUW
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6pMHSdxsE
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXAiW19C9P
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6InbnCtnR
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdz7SqCEX0
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbwfwOxJOO
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHXTPkWbpN
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioenSGZOhB
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswegwjhb2H
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChoeSgfUov
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjGqH9G641
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKUye4LpoG
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOv7uXYuiG
　　「嗯……好。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zi68tAKfj
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk1nY4dlsK
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oWQYWs6Ho
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFOUn3s4hq
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ3TRE44ly
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaGCBuYbd0
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6BgPTFqRD
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta15ISOSY6
　　「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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpDW9AkkLe
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxIQ5j1iu9
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOtisX98NY
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLRcsXfIyX
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR3nyc8noo
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbcAtAmhaT
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxhrF1Ev21
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViKAOYRD83
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG7KtPkQ0W
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqWfJ1ChNP
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5sLT7bH6n
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr2344WQz0
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP3EUw4HLe
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH36A8tBj9T
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYySoGWCb4
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU6nqNhw4b
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoxQNsW5Fv
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnBRUmPN0Y
　　「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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKMcvu44jD
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCTQ916ehF
　　『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。』311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JtZ9nSofy
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHtW8va3sX
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaK41LsjCk
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOnrBPmB92
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVj0zdqjdT
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf8oYlvEgo
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgspZBrfg87
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqJ2HSBEFg
　　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？311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7pdwAAgj7
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZEJldMWhO
　　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？311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSKCxgV6b3
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHJ4PjPmIA
　　「……我不知道啦。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbkyWsXARL
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdypcdmj11
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcY4BjukBH
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMSMzbdZ4o
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0E3FsWzRp
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBbgMjmF0E
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEO8BUejBT
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL25fNgAsdY
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2alfDqgBrA
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeXI9a306d
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW5GRLR1lq
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiw9VRrfZ8
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSpaCp3I0d
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH2hJPr15p
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y8KXuSlQT
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZqz69VgFS
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l3k1RYy1C
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT09h19nJ6
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty3MvYu4yS
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5Y2pdcjQl
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HVGFB2ssu
　　※311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXq9NR8sCg
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOnfanjw3q
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5li1ZeNmY
　　「紫藤……？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLwaIbI4S5
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj3RaJgQyS
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl3id7VSZO
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jS6rHBS0u
　　「紫藤？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dyRDyTbm7
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaHwo8jqyw
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf78ZZPv1zV
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpefNcTzyt
　　「紫藤！」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl1VIHFP43
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTYl1PyhWy
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0S8BW2f2r
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawKtzAYqrt
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYWVvsv0wc
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0sCuZJNr7
　　「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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoczn03uxQ2
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfisiojSohb
　　「……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。

311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMgtEbei6F
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsKhjAiJZL
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRBSVfbuMP
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TGyPJdSFj
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg4NC5rlbF
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXEiiG09pT
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFLs0hxd6X
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWRSrukiVk
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LQxfZYOhY
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvo8YILxAM
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQOaYawXWu
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE5ffYyZvw
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTumQz9mGa
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIAGYLJhQB
　　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？311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbKStcyDfF
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSCMIxPDGX
　　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——311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyozBuK7PH
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhCSNh7yeI
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCSUfjtnkh
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nqNIm9rI5
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpchF7SNvy4
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhRIWEls4Y
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1GPk7sXjq
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDgkwhqrGy
　　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。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn54rEoEzh
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnXVFdrw7G
　　不能再停滯不前了。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2LYxFgQ9w
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkVraJ7PJG
　　自己正成長著。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxr2AwSTRI
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtkDFyAjW4
　　紫藤這麼相信。311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zGdVBvQvg
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTwapn78gR