當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5TcgCmejo
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFCYgPiDPd
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoYloZYBZt
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUQigyMHsR
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqTe3OENfn
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOZKnTyHMl
　　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：411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqJJ7JLguo
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0VCopfxao
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn8ZkdzXxm
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXW7CM4xrO
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC0sVYd5US
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNanX1LIwhi
　　「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。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4bNvPpdmK
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskFY8OdEbS

　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUXzxnZ8CH
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9gSTJdr53
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA24WQMLvsX
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMnZf9IrP0
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfz6tLPiul
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTGW6dPUHw
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2KYtoRw1E
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBv8hID3mg
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DSu3lWL8P
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcyrmURPLf
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yVHxCNKB2
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNYBkSWvwn
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpG1xtjWUx
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAp910lZkl
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdbHgTyWTZ
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmsnFa6FUx
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0di1HtwdeO
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h7tW21RFn
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIilfXDNEZX
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SMybQxA4H
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK1EsmT4oG
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m0MVS7dyJ
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwtQDFJkDe
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5jp6lyoaJ
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQCYZsOE5c
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoRVH9iMnT
　　「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。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF37GQTBfb
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7AR2hjo0L
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqnNVsGuCV
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrzclqXPh5
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan1Umej3pa
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9TKfomnGM
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfm2worSDt
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0nojQ55LR
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa5G2xY6Xr
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMDYJZdaXw
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt22va2QjpI
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvboB8wTnnV
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV7dvq7Kyp
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5XvOat8ps
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTfAnRmlg6
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZQCNoalE1
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUARHZPe2Ym
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRusaHOOfZ3
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxSTscAiws
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BxV9Cf12x
　　「嗯……好。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzIExco5km
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtunA8gsRTf
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrKgCawudy
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzNTSwUwAy
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cF5AF4cfl
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrQb6nik7Y
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6OdZ6oGqd
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZk8kLEXQM
　　「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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyngqbLE0wj
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMbvf9oUuo
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5Ojk9D6XS
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdihrnr9V6
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWOQyg6y5u
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyMWECDWlz
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDMg207Xu2
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzZxLlNOpB
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA6b3gurzp
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2ygQZ4t50
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ1x8I5ct5
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BDWDYVmOA
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE0AS8tXPM
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU3t03l7IQ
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTItdtwnIIK
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh4GqcxJEM
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0pU5F6NXp
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGzJlTsGft
　　「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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTIQPjjTBp
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ARQpMown5
　　『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。』411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ6Ko3awZj
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdFRPjp2ea
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhGwdaBDW5
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDCgWQvf6b
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuMm0amKDL
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWwiEKeGga
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKth2crK4C
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Qi320RJv2
　　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？411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sAUTn6rgh
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYg2Dguwju
　　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？411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndaiWY4vQV
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjph38yhBGM
　　「……我不知道啦。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSgKLrcM4u
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oFuqtn9xy
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqZBRgrXRt
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5wLeMaz68
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0nGO76YyH
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6jmAtwaTZ
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2qj4Aq4uo
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNgeTCcl7m
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucZsvDuuPV
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd07eAufuSz
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ11T39llX
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ykhYMnsSU
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOTlI9Ub3D
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C6gFJP4TB
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BC46elYvB
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjTcxkkUZx
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTcyAHAYu3
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVrK2MhIdQ
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrqtJmu2It
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZL5c5Z7HA
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9BUU3PlRC
　　※411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZtV2N65fY
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo18PzgOxs
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz7xOO0L9R
　　「紫藤……？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYxta9Snuo
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlmqf5EOOr
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv9XX5A6CS
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5MJgE23s3
　　「紫藤？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKygdTtcx1
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TyxOl9LkH
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4vDfRgPG3
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1gzjFJkTN
　　「紫藤！」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrJG0A40qR
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Q7N68Osu
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDef7H7I21
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyedTvoB8Q
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU7Vdr9g4b
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg8X3NU59H
　　「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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoTXGUBOei
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPb8xbDIst
　　「……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。

411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkBAlzou9T
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIQg1RxtCd
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxakg7EkvrK
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfQiQpVHVA
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBdXAlcwT2
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZWnANvYPG
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GtPrxInP9
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciDQV65e3c
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAAIMGxYCq
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoUnVygsuS
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLadd83Jzb
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWrF5G0lMT
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFrf986pu1
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0QM3sszvx
　　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？411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHir27PTHF
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlZadW8nqE
　　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——411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXtGps5ZDA
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJc1Ra1RtL
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNHKghXU4c
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9nkCBVOIP
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRGmS70tl2
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　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdudqRnXvU5
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvAq0QRRdx
　　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。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOnA9zIbEA
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM5pi6MGVI
　　不能再停滯不前了。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0JU1iZ122
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95kPmVhKyc
　　自己正成長著。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz91hVyUDa
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　　紫藤這麼相信。411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLGQMTR6LX
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz3xnHsiS9