當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA7Upwwo1F
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbourEHPWt
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMvRO7Aetr
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc0F9bKRiN
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYhGMYJGPi
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZdnT34gj5
　　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：290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVixvkfdWv
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTJRQz2xgd
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYMiEJTAUU
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPAcwxzByy
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBmiZv3aX4
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWZZ4OGRb3
　　「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。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRQofvxMOA
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUBy6omb8R

　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAppE9Lwbs
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7ECkGWu9C
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd20dGCz0m
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmBL6XO1aF
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyvWZKUJdL
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZFLQSQEgY
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O4rYexgde
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYtcSDv29X
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqX3EhThfm
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR8yoigC8i
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScUNvxEqVA
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGyQi151Ob
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNjQGZ9OHA
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvliTqnnGaV
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgONSoCCzK
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXCEiF85Bd
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpdHgWhpbu
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PGg0VxJcu
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmfX6nLHXK
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLFd0AAV6k
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrWNV3WMW9
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawD5m8E3BG
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS6MP8pBz6
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Hk66W0Xqm
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdumkLbPst
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfpBUVzww7
　　「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。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgTV73kk1k
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAh4dgcNpJ
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7vsdRu5N1
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2oxltGVjj
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMsN0o3mFK
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTZSLl8iE0
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZidWA0frRo
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht6kFAjhxK
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW0PzRamSQ
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbbnFNd815
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFaULc8AUL
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTcPEvh5Kq
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJvnJox6oj
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ysr0NIh54
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1o0AmcrNL
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgYj7JnNjD
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8NNgGauyZ
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChSwNYL6rx
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihNUIlfPb1
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNObmyNRV3
　　「嗯……好。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcXmHfo0l7
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd4GghMAnP
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8APYvGuKd5
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDDhlY5y9l
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfLmwzVhrD
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUxvvU5Ix5
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSIgafgpes
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb7xYjkGm0
　　「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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSVKj5oh0s
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z3JqLalKk
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPcQgWBgtf
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gyD2T5ZVQ
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cbzBgI1XW
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaf5j8qSJC
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9BKHzXf4D
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo8JNWyKdu
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Zn6qAnqm
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDStoVZ7GGW
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7mVSHYqqb
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAGpQU0zff
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hbrikRguJ
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yshy3PKmD
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKUPcroPdC
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjEPtXfoNT
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMar2lxk2M
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXmzeo1fOA
　　「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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSuo5gSOT5
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1ZtlMSgW7
　　『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。』290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyHIfbDPgD
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNePWJI1PAc
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFhyYcKmTj
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRDpTJN3gN
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7CORrdcc0
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB77jZoqM1
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB3dHD8JfC
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LRoYc9fyS
　　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？290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHirguXfoA
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCNZpg2D2K
　　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？290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ4gbWpp3O
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDXZH22Pfy
　　「……我不知道啦。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPIBkBmJ9C
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP03rRlqed
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvukExhHaUq
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwXoYTVPX2
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0neXKHKXDv
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2ORqoItPF
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL6vdaoKoE
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZCBueINQp
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdO8x34jus
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmR6ISGnlR
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4JZwy05ny
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wBc9OHWHx
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6MoyeIJbZ
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYt9uPLqE1
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xqeSyxYzX
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4UtDhpl47
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagmHQlex1V
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLbvrZPLWe
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4yBNuVD3H
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GHhVMh8k4
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjMEk9O7vc
　　※290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGAdWd9q8N
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vvRZG9YCF
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEERgu4aaB
　　「紫藤……？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCoBwfVkun
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIXmnTT7Vw
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqcNkKy0hB
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk2E9kuz9k
　　「紫藤？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAhyVDbNqo
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsG6qv5Wkw
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EQWJlt5SL
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDWbohyMBe
　　「紫藤！」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjeinK6xOU
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWulrYuHNAL
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFn2qSGgpD
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34SKdAbaGR
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOENok22k3
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu4qEoRydM
　　「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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVCWowv7VL
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l1CouUP9W
　　「……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。

290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgp5rXHHfy
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwfbZi6jH3
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3jCVkaHem
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm4owjeWyM
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmqCTAlLxK
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4bKKldL63
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY3VwRfFRp
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ0n8WvMPC
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBLMA7U2su
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CB2dCSNLk
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaapE1hZKrD
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZR9ObZO6S
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUZuonrraO
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsaSehbpvm
　　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？290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25rKbHkDRz
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFGktdIQxI
　　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——290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLICLT1eHu
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsKoR1hpuo
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsxWClzLEX
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbWualTyrb
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ1FATrYtr
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIozZMB7M0
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIfyMEnexY
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaSIFd5ZG3
　　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。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkEpQL94MX
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6BmXk1yAc
　　不能再停滯不前了。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5ztmbKtRr
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDBkfvnbfS
　　自己正成長著。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTqdHQJVIx
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8QxTjUj3N
　　紫藤這麼相信。290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc5GLU7wFP
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBZXh3k4nJ