當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMPAxlPz2E
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BvMasvqD2
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ26aV0Sav
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbPLXjJmHJ
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe36OLCGjfO
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYluSARUK5L
　　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：328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdFj3GitJD
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIi8uKBtRh
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZODu0BbAY3
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dQbbm0LQL
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmAmZuF4XB
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz2TzLOZxa
　　「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。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgO6EAB4dk
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVCodNyzHG

　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QUe8r8jgf
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCGQnVKiW6
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BVNHctY9g
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeBp7HbVYV
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsTktsg3My
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv0dXawgpu
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVsRmegPRC
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOcoPe1Hh6
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqETPVccMe
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoREr74azh
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvCzTmW1KU
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFGyanKFOw
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZbRPX7Wbc
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpg3CAh04r
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQnfbSlfVZ
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PNA4kLTcj
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibZHcFDE5F
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQBBRi9E2G
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeRpFxpr3M
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbci5KuEdA0
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw384U8FbR
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vds0A0CMA
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vxWrp7MyX
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqO15p4mE8
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy9TIL7aBs
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8nupHN1RP
　　「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。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxpmxuFmj8
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeY4qqA06f
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhJWo04fv6
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofrfWhphvO
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpzsGxX0OF
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5EfDAMQy7
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvGeE8u6Bb
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfmtFK8RLA
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5k3TZA696
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMCwmM1RMI
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z1oq5X6YA
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYB5a06tWh
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9hOTde0Cm
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cmxSRAHz6
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXNcoR8vxG
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIKhUVtgJe
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuoVuzkKvt
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6UA5rq5sk
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIdtU3Ncp9
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxsKRvKkwI
　　「嗯……好。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHqtsQ7yLm
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMnhYXJyVw
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUlGNccPAM
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DfILyzgqs
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9GvfIgzaj
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHCQl9zNy8
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR66Nv1aNj9
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDV4fNPAs3
　　「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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtxQhUYAI0
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ4JERvrRg
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPZ2WjuUXA
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KdAdqzx9L
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmdEwL2E2U
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WibfgLwpN
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXczvDRpEx
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p2KemwVyR
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlgLuNrr2q
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwMO30QqY6
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLcV73f8U1
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGHTEZePtY
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjUYmPF8BY
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGjisHpWak
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUvvtkqnIv
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZT1SOTA2E
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYDv22GB5A
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW9mNs773c
　　「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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemLFX7Oymo
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGyEFUJCtU
　　『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。』328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGWLzYja0s
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bl7XkL69r
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYS6JA4SP0
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQJMK2JJmb
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXJH0k8cMb
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8W4JoKD4o
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgckJfKdHEx
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9xR01weOn
　　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？328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltmBzvhEuT
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSelgZvqh1k
　　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？328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxDBii16ct
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABo0ZandSD
　　「……我不知道啦。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbFT7PLZJz
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0g4XhFNvD
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CHNX9Oqhl
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcvkufOU2C
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk4Qpjw8Lw
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡages3zoVRT
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4gljpLgwi
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu9D9q76MK
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDejpiHmcoO
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiPSfdx2Hn
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZtUnNszjy
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRyIQpJtqw
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58Q6ACo9X0
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4hC421omw
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqycp47L31u
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCTGuNH9Gx
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjWGuBiRy3
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BS7TCcIep
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw28S7V0VMb
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1tG62uun8
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99OUR8HzuM
　　※328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg1hV5o0OO
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWFqjDuwOZ
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fvIWVKaCn
　　「紫藤……？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVd1xaXvm1
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKwmYZF3kv
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnsFbXpW74
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0S2w5AMKb
　　「紫藤？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxBI9zWjaP
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIek3RNuM2N
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVts5Y0UbF
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkewJycPjF
　　「紫藤！」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RzraZdd7J
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw2CYpBGLU
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B4gpcbvbW
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7IsmIdZrk
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hE7D5q0Y5
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7ZQYlheTh
　　「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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv2T6q2fyd
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0pbxki5hT
　　「……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。

328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFTdXNUFNh
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEjjtVjuta
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzzQKhUJ4X
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKBrexYCHh
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iDwq1AAr3
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgnukhb9ON
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkoDcwj6md
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9DPbXadYP
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AJR3yFZfB
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfy3dCjPb8
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfRHxeQ9QG
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK22aLmfM0Z
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZW4aBhDBE
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLDITQNcZw
　　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？328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKERBChxZEQ
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUVdSS1M11
　　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——328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA4gzWCiSk
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W9nkAnVb7
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNF8Gan2Z1
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR3XYArIGH
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKShcbzRow
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HpC1U6PUE
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPOsp6RsvD
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWaIIwD040
　　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。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlnbo4IKeU
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NLjRp8olC
　　不能再停滯不前了。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV73MCbLHxw
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6KpWwWJJt
　　自己正成長著。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq89V0wCTa
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NlxjfRXE9
　　紫藤這麼相信。328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwhXgw3ap2
328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYrF0b82Qa