當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvcZAh8Izt
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCzlOg2cfK
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A1WrTBcfF
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuYITXyy5y
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2jpMQughM
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1HE6hw9J8
　　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：305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3tzf9Tgax
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu0O0MDApN
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkBTgjp68C
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeUd83QTiz
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ15enGdAy
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfevebQng0
　　「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。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fB3jzMROd
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vIA4Pmp5D

　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JYOEW2kA3
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIafoYDuFl
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N7ftxAz7j
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6gtDaQ8AM
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEvphRANWe
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQfCBTXhlX
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLjIRMgdbQ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO1H1I8NR4
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIZo7PMZGZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PhAIXFBZR
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Pp1XsGkJ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNSCsrguvt
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAi9HulB9h
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYOfveQJgE
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl80wvWqD4
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHPvTS7qjC
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv1jbJNKaT
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij0WTYRnqe
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5ncNao16O
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzOhvZ9j9Z
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4ECxMiHyO
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLXb1TeVBQ
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv012F8fekJ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtPW5LYEZE
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2eyWBvo3G
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xMhx57GfH
　　「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。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPClB3MpVMB
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbCa439vFk
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4syjw2RP1P
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQiwG2Kb7R
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3nqeRDh1B
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrWR9tCVCd
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilX113ijmo
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUGAnWoyGK
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdVJNrl6xr
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpQk1PSgu8
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mo63FODp5
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYJfVez5GZ
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj32NLxcO7
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H2HdU9Y6P
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DO6NmOUM2
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZjqIg2DNv
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47kGN23uME
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb9W6rhmFj
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMjzt4KnSL
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGXIagcjSQ
　　「嗯……好。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEwiLqmgR4
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOXkusDBD8
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DcdlcrqkF
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTUteLRqzM
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3ajlyrK6N
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7LhRydJJ0
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qni6HB9LZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yHl8u9VRI
　　「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10bffryAVt
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbRhe7Bps3
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUHmcqvdX4
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pEeGGQC2I
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH2LJHSM1f
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bYDxGf9k0
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxBuuUxPhV
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlGznhvJ2X
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHsUe1P2aU
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaShU6mMLo
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNhduXZn04
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81qKKpUgbN
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyyVXh2ZFM
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0579ajq6h
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysy6h5jGxB
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7eIICrrg7
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCzdjnRImI
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZvnd98S7J
　　「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3oXUEA2G8
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvA2oMgLk5
　　『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。』305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBGCEMpSN0
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s2WKReS0P
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGdWnT6rq7
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PYXjwpeXY
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCIEoUDX4Y
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwYEFGEeBm
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfdDQUcvwP
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisvET1bZRR
　　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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKZQ5fO4JG
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ90IoNtPi
　　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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtOUHeYXqZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir7AmXCIqD
　　「……我不知道啦。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyTwGZZF9V
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI1yoDfKrO
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVSq3S4wtt
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3o236FHFk
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTphaQi2m78
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqcg3SQsSF
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoDWM301RI
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkEqFJu4We
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuv2XJ4OoG
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVevrPyUF5P
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHShP3CviH
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlokYAmdZ3
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUKoGglkUV
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2Zj3dAuQh
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMMZx7A5gN
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgCJbxbMAX
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt94aYar41
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8JI0BF5kv
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSGoNHGhTv
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9yUgBD1Wq
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykfBGBcYXD
　　※305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT8RyQ9rAw
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47UuSVBspG
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy1QiN8uty
　　「紫藤……？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6KsrGsvJB
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuiGsq5VF1
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGnlGuaRPz
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAqdBI3t4M
　　「紫藤？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1nTTSZmv8
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5SKep09jW
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbDOKdkDR4
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetTwDz2wtF
　　「紫藤！」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqDNunIyp8
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUgQEhfyiV
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS67u70tDa
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxan2osxxr
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNugp7wedx
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ojliDPNYH
　　「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQQ2cqSonJ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00yhlNMrnn
　　「……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。

305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJojUxYiDvV
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlhg73RFvM
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbhA7UfdvM
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4oEQH6eEf
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcpKaWwC8t
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeMnRhojIb
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO4HiPQxCo
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzuGSTWLxc
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNXVyAyw00
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGuRBbxuWc
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYndCgdy5LP
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG88ByhjGSS
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIrkJOCX9U
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeJl9kvShI
　　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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdlJ9SbYdb
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRuYn7CRDA
　　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——305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpvh41rsh2
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX670s89T7k
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7AqijItDZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gKSp6VU0Q
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPK624vWFE
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjZ3nHRFA5
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGkhEsmk70
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrpjS4RMtL
　　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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfQlG0Ic3e
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXeV1rQTrC
　　不能再停滯不前了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uGipqiNBS
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWzON1jcyA
　　自己正成長著。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh37cwFaVv1
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ItSfLr6E
　　紫藤這麼相信。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwgMBmb7u6
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmqOafgIfo