當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht0ijIpS3R
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGcfdHRIso
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yCL5MhOQm
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9npx5tNmE
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIRS9020Ai
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm4VEWIlBu
　　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：336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCAGKbZZUV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGkNMSSoqG
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K17LCObeS
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YOjdjHVzx
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXFYg6oDlX
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTgGhOYCRZ
　　「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。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaPLqdBikO
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6rHvFZSqK

　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9nHmzKgan
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgrT7B2Gee
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuBY02iFH8
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DZTkXoaVL
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vBeXZZjnn
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5UXsK5N5y
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFVcEWbzk3
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2pEC4vKZx
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGAiYknegO
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwzKvJYLtt
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr07dNyP4nd
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe1v7rygSF
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZteYdgjy4j
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2X5ky9tNT
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT5ULl7hWV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOxUOXFSwK
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZaE1pK7KD
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVT73wrkez
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBfhB8grDz
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GivVR3QrV
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQDalYW8up
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBt3FdFyex
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd9HYlKYnp
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6PjQFBcSZ
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ8Cj3yO2v
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUqM9opn7J
　　「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。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx5uQq8G5r
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcq6Jl7h5A
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVOfbpe03H
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdjIus3vzN
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfha9MfuFq
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuYliPiHaD
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLDDVF7O4E
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEP9lJFGfI
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEi75Y5Lb6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRoos5cQbu
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWJmnSfOnR
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwyci7GacH
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShSAX9h7t1
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu274f0sfI
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXaCHyrLJ6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDqv9tjmj1
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5Ld7EClAE
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIspeqNLNRQ
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIHwUY5Dzk
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62ROC5Glvx
　　「嗯……好。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5biycAiaLw
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7Si45tG3C
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wcWoOWMYb
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NaEKPIqXA
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6D452KpU6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuUWRUlD2k
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92MnmkrdMa
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtyfIKW8EV
　　「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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyq8NbYxKf
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrtvuj8FTf
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA3gib8JwF
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVSlGxVNfx
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM5CC8G3X0
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWumS4ng2oJ
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUmkKlYZrl
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeeG4aGcO4
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi58Dg8tpdk
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLewUG2A7uh
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmcqRAcWIA
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ONAPQ9xVK
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LY5IsSjEZ
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkqIMIO85a
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUYRJIPfCF
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sEWk0wLLd
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZwWjQtZqP
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0R7nmFUWY
　　「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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F1cmPIaJd
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWTX2kuwGn
　　『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。』336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90p8NBFcbh
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNXWdnxJj9
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXbGavQnmV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXOUqATLhz
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLWT7Rjxam
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwm9C6DQpr
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1394tqP3k
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSwunaHBfm
　　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？336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zDa7DYw5q
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PbNoM9SsM
　　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？336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eMzxNnieg
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRKJtzmuAx
　　「……我不知道啦。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aFxSqefni
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QK0mcEUtu
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE0KXPYpEu
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIwpBWeomB
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjQ2TxyGLs
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77neiYVymu
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iZeVXQeNj
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WTc1YYNP5
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANeiNfLToH
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmFMmlfjpg
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz9iaSo1t3
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rRKkS58M0
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KAyXKsz0y
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfy5AWg8sp
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy2Rujec1U
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlW0eYZkwH
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn360MiE3fI
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHWEgF0trg
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17g9MCuQG7
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzONZm0J04
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKdd8Gr7DV
　　※336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8QHdisKMV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviPmnIgVgE
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu87tDLkdLC
　　「紫藤……？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwBB0IEG9m
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1W7uk8SJ5
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlahLT1IoA
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrZt0hPDKg
　　「紫藤？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoR9Nj92Ba
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUrO1Qtcmb
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6s7tpQyFH
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cWOUjzEdK
　　「紫藤！」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuT9yaLgPy
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm599BeI8Lt
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFT7XQFX6s
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBhuANJxJE
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuzMHFahKH
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJs3bCCNrx
　　「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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcy5Mn8dyg
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg65zNMNb1
　　「……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。

336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05t5c5MFsg
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofxnJ04wEO
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk1CAlSeZO
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyVEgNpT19
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfyIsBamqt
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL35OxGM0FJ
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtvH6fsmwU
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRMztnCL91
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7mOfNCVqW
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZz5nhLQTW
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVKH5pS9Hu
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUArpbTfvwz
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl8Jb2JOXY
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QWuCMrjXI
　　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？336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75ZiJYTzPD
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqSCoyuXGZ
　　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——336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6jgTXaREg
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtklbOVUN3
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTLB9kLQNk
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5mURubHU9
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNdkgbCoud
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedVjWnz8yj
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFeVYmFQF1
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhkv7bWgI7
　　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。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEbWgSymFl
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0XSiwiMdY
　　不能再停滯不前了。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYCPcyQBnT
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA86Zw5evAm
　　自己正成長著。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZCfCisdzU
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb1o6ZQzex
　　紫藤這麼相信。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDWB4d5Ikm
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEx7FQta5d