當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkn499gEYj
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0VmSLDZq4
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci9Cx2Fk3s
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8h6bYjeyT
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH5HQa98CH
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2KFVuT6Xl
　　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：314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShbnmS0fv4
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NibQxtaTV
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7OSdRFQUA
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAcUFfeioS
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCsI23v8W3
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxf1mQ08Lx
　　「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。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfGfBDXoCA
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yz4nPFIyd

　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA61ZiHKKW
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ543UduZx5v
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvScNfUNBi
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4UgYHvMb3
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkRVQiEfoc
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NFZ04WFZ3
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfR389msfw
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJO9G9Kqd
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TAl1bjaD4
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekDwg2SWzJ
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhUm3EklHb
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CqkdW4M3w
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulHIeFRgfb
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvqFuO0l5Q
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqU84TG4JL
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgncdlVnF9G
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZLXA37Mi3
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyytY1wfK3
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc3EnAPVDe
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbFspq1r0z
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjRVyNnuTQ
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3h9HqeGDK
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sVwiTWOKS
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelB9cfo5ip
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDetObPQpy
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnNf3fGqUr
　　「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。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcxbUa0o6I
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRkmz0uoiy
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCcg1lJkPc
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XBQDHcbgN
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFeQjzTflM
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YSWEc8gIl
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigFldPigGL
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYvhMq4eyh
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7MDzcGnh3
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOLJdmeTBM
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdPfVDBeDu
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij8SI1TBwJ
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXdgGl80Ec
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UTe5ktq6N
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwfEXYUw9B
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECmh5XN3kJ
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYdVBPhoLy
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyrwgVkFqN
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaIoc93o1Z
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRzj12MOB2
　　「嗯……好。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDWwofHPa9
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWA4onKnSN
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz3XFQ1Vb2
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq1xTwK4Y5
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdpailZqlK
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYocMMSQS0
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIjmrkdL6W
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu2KuXXSLp
　　「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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXdoXZOves
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIZ62gWVdR
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcTFt94Hne
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50TRf4fyRE
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3G5ZWSZ8L
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmZyLxz2Cq
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSA31x1JMR
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyarUviArpl
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbp0yknLWq
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZAsdCyfDq
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2hvoX4bTc
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrDpR7johl
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWByc5zxzeF
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi76vQVrQbb
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr0mD0YDRQ
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4O8D7Lqy4
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5RgyyFEaH
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRhmc7AQov
　　「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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xgDs6yviE
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxqovK2Ykz
　　『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。』314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkCKM3Izpb
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89HfqVQdDW
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgNW41A1j0
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCy21jQvsP
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbR3o5nXNu
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuHtpOXWPg
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOPzTZmt0B
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq1ot47Y2o
　　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？314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCykNrUgFBH
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NDfmt8xsz
　　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？314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDT0ev61vH
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSqSjHqgJa
　　「……我不知道啦。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP9RUVjUSm
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgposJdu0N
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a6irbWJAq
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVkNG3MdKa
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7UGJ6wBjY
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtq8CAhFo2
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GUubRdwP1
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu8niIUY07
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOfHS4fuPm
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY0HkCu9dO
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUz0zeATBU
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LtSnIaiak
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHUZjkZBBe
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7alTHGYqsi
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkwXNYpSL9
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDdKll2I9T
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfZRTB2hev
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCmkYYTgFx
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf5aB5gDPy
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK6ZbgGu35
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84w2GG4XfE
　　※314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwvO5kb929
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQAn6GSNPz
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WlUoAta2J
　　「紫藤……？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6yZyPkwuX
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPW0ezUn6nh
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwF77KoB2O
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPX6AJNNvF
　　「紫藤？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy6PLHIQNB
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTgLRC5639
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJn4AT9OO4
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdIcrdUS6k
　　「紫藤！」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqrzlvU4mh
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQex477or7
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONrcvNv8Ed
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw1GaqA5Iu
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoNUr74dqz
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHKWz8uU5k
　　「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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uYWfvLxgK
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxcIdlGdLL
　　「……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。

314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHoyJFZjug
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMjSmIBkZv
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzTgGpl6y0
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdbnU5sc2B
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHOifUFkA3
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bar9QsBJy
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljpXqpaULv
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2j8lpz3v1
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj0Zlz8Ufa
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDvzhfODec
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH2EGcW3Qt
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIIJh4g3ey
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbQfISOsrf
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqwerC2Zjg
　　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？314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd0K8beFQt
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ez9o0IjxW
　　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——314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCpfboQYOC
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4eVw0DMdG
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1fQMCh6gW
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2QSvheSjA
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNFOBB3Q3E
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIQhbrgmPK
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yAjlMQzLR
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL3fhY3P35
　　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。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXufpGgJSeK
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDonRObXmC
　　不能再停滯不前了。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN6ErBGYkt
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF5P48omzK
　　自己正成長著。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g4lfS0qMq
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7sRZ6TjM0
　　紫藤這麼相信。314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfZWEGNuTs
314Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOncsK3rJ1