當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtEmKox9bF
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u0WWyzOD4
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gLqQULCxl
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7InTDsxJF
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXJX7ggOK2
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNFV4dy7sA
　　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：280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAcfSJDPYs
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3nndSYRqv
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K7lMZwFpr
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwSo2yUZzr
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDWj1yYyyg
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5yDJrRQ0A
　　「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。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmdAbZDu1u
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcFrPClFzS

　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUoWQsVDvn
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZUFSIUky1
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPDKMSCf4T
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS43JsKJefR
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM3Cq2VjBL
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhSobe8CDF
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23f26U6FSb
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkkoDmyXBQ
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL3SaI2um7
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKU6whK4MM
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJIXZOqdtG
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4Y8UO5pE8
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc4XloPfc9
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPA5OTR3kG
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWMmSDrFlB
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYCcMhTJ4x
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YwjXuIpiK
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccMGjj1mFX
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUKuzUBgbf
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04zfiSK662
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Um2RCPQiu
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaYCwYY1UT
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCVIQEecxb
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBbNIinmv0
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoslmxfUR4s
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJisAFRuNKu
　　「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。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Odq1jT2QW
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCrBqpImVD
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELrMni0bjO
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd6uGiTrht
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQjxzDqCoa
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYb7wjLc3S
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOTrgaYqto
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGPuKq1d4l
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pjaFidBk8
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij72f3yXWx
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv8TxOo5l1
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVIEf3Uxrp
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcb8YWdy8W
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgEGwCKYXD
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV3rcuWxfb
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xvfRmgiqr
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesmD7tHStH
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82kq9OyZ6P
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnFqrUrsbf
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOY9u4OID8
　　「嗯……好。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJckFfgzlJ
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNneSuKM9k
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3E6HaidZl
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZj6bbQIdf
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUqvV8TZH4
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BXIwOPPCt
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic2LDiUkmt
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpkkVVZh3A
　　「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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmgqIUy92G
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJ0dnzQ5G2
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2o0nFPR0Q
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngCyg4PP6V
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S7a5gYogi
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1UiZ5kVV0
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOy4w4EoVF
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPSL3ikaWM
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8736SrNFsc
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsIokmXRPx
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEFnivEKS4
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBsXZ4QnuD
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPerKxR559p
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOsFtk8BHw
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7CkENxN9x
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ld3JSKuDM
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIiA1rTBiU
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1l3xSAFCV
　　「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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDEYrnWY4b
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY7OeXo7J8
　　『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。』280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOifY0iTuMr
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVme4Yz6dnK
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGIChTiW9z
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeZtg6RAN6
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmUTNPKp0Y
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr1zPmrNwp
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFFaz2VUgn
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNjh24NorP
　　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？280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSGAEV7Xfh
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoDDXTOfrd
　　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？280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PWNPalQmP
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUdU62Zaus
　　「……我不知道啦。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG4MI0CIwt
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbZchS980c
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYswqgJidyU
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR9ibrr9NB
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf1VE7CamQ
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeJvo0hDha
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgGVMrXFD5
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF8tGr8XBm
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucZv2LLpei
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLebCANhfC7
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T2V3C6lTj
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeK15KKaFi
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B9MZKCjKq
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp5buUXskA
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgMURZnYli
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwGPcHKaCE
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE3cWMA83L
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcU0dZbyLD
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wSFWTC9ZG
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7uvH8nNAg
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn6gh3yPYC
　　※280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZsnVOvsTm
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDC8CMqNpR
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZwIO3dYpy
　　「紫藤……？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU2EtSkmah
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebtbhu9zAn
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosugHtTnZm
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuUr7UDuHj
　　「紫藤？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSXNSKDVQk
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBk2wPsdF5
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZCDzVrf9S
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxhumE6408
　　「紫藤！」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizVs1W8v4k
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhYA3assPg
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPlM0kp0ux
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ocaDitVq9
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO82xWPw3x
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VcYUJENU8
　　「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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvj4ml0757
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYeWhsSheU
　　「……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。

280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vISsoV5k0
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs02tiG3Mk
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIxnt22OCu
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy1jCgT3nx
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLGGvWfrG3
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuRSpMsiqU
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M005RAbJy
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSD58kP3Pf
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKSvJ6jn8T
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0d1HGg2MZ
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jJL1U9ezr
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENdFfUJDiR
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64vYPsU5tb
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEsXqAbiUs
　　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？280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSub3qIRyz
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KcEoLcXg7
　　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——280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc31lfOp2r
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9SsQv6bPk
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSV4kyjfl9
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tEQfIJDsH
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU2Ag59wCs
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB3wg7nFdu
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnJE6WnwVX
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcD0PshLx4
　　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。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocGDQX5LLh
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KOsMIeNHX
　　不能再停滯不前了。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0ldjMg4b4
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6xYtJpkXV
　　自己正成長著。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl6vAAKNU8
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bN5Kg0iaH
　　紫藤這麼相信。280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDisyuXseJl
280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLbGet7mjr