當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1OgsKTWza
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgyM3tetLi
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgnIN27zBq
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ57FC0gwd9
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj97PHgEfeq
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD2vrxfsm5
　　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：371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqh5nkekFY
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq97PrMh8k
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YFghSkEuW
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZw7ldn4aT
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa8CEqlyp6
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZbr1q6Ocw
　　「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1aCxU50Hy
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDNkjIGT5O

　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJwQTL2QoW
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBtDKlaOtq
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8SrajhaSm
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjqexAM9uM
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM1hHULQFU
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrFhc95smv
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eLfL1ui7Y
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedmtyBq5f3
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXigAfZac2
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9tSE55qbp
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA2uF86GjV
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7qkfiqura
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopeCim3ePH
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptmt8oFD0K
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5khdNe26bU
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3hyYm68zy
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcluQnK6qP
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G1vEdnJVq
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI9LhgtBxR
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsE1yqCa6MQ
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4AIUoAHYd
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FuYviplGB
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCccua413PD
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4zoHaBK7A
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWup6repWb3
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yMf5yqme2
　　「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y2uKw6msP
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CfKGdOYkj
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGICEOGLKJ
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWHm6nSm4f
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9H8PkPIod
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmcPxOhHX1
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5sqdCzbmN
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFV9hTGsVk
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMpn99s339
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hh3Dx5Yj2
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3q4yWar9D
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa46PTJX8ue
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjmzVvx9t1
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETl2KohdxU
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtigTHMgMQU
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutisTNl4HF
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg1HpsaHSo
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJGpfJyABQ
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWE2RAubzd
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhgetmsz6A
　　「嗯……好。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7gS1Xvosg
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi7ZnO1TVe
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvztiB9rCrP
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbDFUYUCE6
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSpVNddq5i
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NwHtxUDxQ
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMKdR6ITvn
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpH9a4XqpK
　　「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSAEMpPAJm
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOfO0EUmtl
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkilsRjibD
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWX9fhBl0a
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpjT91ZtKH
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuFXA2Itgu
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbef2y6Icz
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQgz5lUPXk
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89aPojSgau
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpJQzmEX4n
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0AU6TWncy
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutZ53Du8Sk
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4iIxoyzvG
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGBpY6Kaqo
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHTMrA3j5s
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRsrNr6JwF
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQirPyfrQBE
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hqSsyHhGS
　　「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QhdIeD0Q7
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0XcudvENr
　　『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。』371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5OdtKddQy
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EIVAbrCN4
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FsgixUOb4
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkBkXX3RmH
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYb4nhLs5O
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CUQThUNyV
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ7nZfYp2E
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksYqtvoAp0
　　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？371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSgRLJEPmq
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ5SdK0Agj
　　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？371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMNzHRNH4j
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiFXkPzkRe
　　「……我不知道啦。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbUvjbIDRP
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfX0xTryMA
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit1oSemawz
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wCzYHUR3A
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eek3DlejF
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFQWXBJ3O1
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfVMiobUxa
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCfZzg5xMM
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9b5b6jc73
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XH88np66D
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpulknb6ein
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9zwgYBILm
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GD6PC0cSB
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJXBwqnB30
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPto9uksxIA
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJthZm1yCL
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CAFbIoHIb
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkheMqjmzfx
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQsnYrubmr
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4IwsjbSNd
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12tKmFPVgV
　　※371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPYbAEX1cl
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoOA2NHCvh
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QgwdYWZpS
　　「紫藤……？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9DKoqlwET
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr5h39acFd
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7eMYa7EyV
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0UjPwr2be
　　「紫藤？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhG3pc5EhE
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6m37oeqAS
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ899h7755
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4sUYLgNi4
　　「紫藤！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLQti1qkb2
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHVf79sCu4
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOcg5kSiBf
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKXXVnwobc
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTs2QqMq6K
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtNOQF42mP
　　「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfi31YYR5C
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgJ7LbicIf
　　「……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。

371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmW87kpU7L
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSEX5q32uF
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJczJRTKoi
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUUc6PwULE
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf6PqyxbYx
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJGWgeyrfr
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqop9rJ5jjK
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1daXYR4uTH
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdym74qboa
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ588v39Fz
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDNwmHfGIv
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzEVMTEJkg
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnv6bgdY8l
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3BsRTS1r1
　　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？371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbvS4RF2rB
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWfsltRVo2
　　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——371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCWY5saRaq
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolzMgEbUAT
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl1NY4mh8Z
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHiglokCsu
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0acrDhc03
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX05RtNGRu
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAgs0vtCI9
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE6ZmZNChv
　　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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVQVMxY3Nl
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyd03dvXNZ
　　不能再停滯不前了。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtGvPBugZs
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy46sGsuqA3
　　自己正成長著。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsWh7fn5Qh
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eR2WJvagx
　　紫藤這麼相信。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NhNobwTu8
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSbjzhOwfK