當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdGvIBggzZ
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYDvq0Qmxr
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxO5G6fQJX
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ4iMHNH3N
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuzxMz7HHi
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaW2ZxwXzh
　　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：278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwioSFuXiUF
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BOE7ZC7vD
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wQP6hSQPF
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoeRvFZDTS
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQiPQZlOCK
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDicWx0dtKl
　　「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。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2vO6dLzd3
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr2RGmuhkx

　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLolTUMVSH
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjs2nt4Twa
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCKAsLpzUz
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrZEqHN2cG
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zLiHOQtkN
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FzLk03C8G
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyYJdr4OkN
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSgtvh7uFA
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3wWGzeBqq
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecxDiffiWt
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nmpN2xCw3
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mfpJb8EKF
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zJqzYdcmB
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd58p3jIhD
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEXFO3AUxv
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplLnthwf0e
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftTlS1yDNj
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uaNVGTAiW
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIgxxuAYsQ
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZuyZLUBoO
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1wzNh7IqM
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ruSRiQvT6
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgER3c6iROZ
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH2oPWhm82
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZbUvnPpo7
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJsTaxJPvK
　　「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。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkJq4IhpvL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIOJLCpOwK
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpusbIEHFe3
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUgKQ30GyH
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwByfpzMCdQ
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndGBxo1Rcd
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3jbMblrS2
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtnTWNTZp6
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G7rPO2ecL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrl1PAlbo7
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz8h4OVwWk
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pvo9LduFy
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKbocqU2Ge
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxx7TjBw21
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjKC7uxJbx
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqAEvXcZx8
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3r5rMuBzWw
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbiLTviMtr
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PjSdIKwfk
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hpYBd4FwW
　　「嗯……好。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnrSs9o5dw
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQTzIKnxUI
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqNZ0AlAfS
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssL0g1kyix
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmDVmny4yE
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPkXNVsbNv
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPjgfFJWW3
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw1fxqVTNA
　　「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O31KHx7Sa
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV6SMSPdlV
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8vSo135yL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AFLiYN1Yi
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJME4xVZjxP
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWPT3CG9Po
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx1csVYHBR
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3olkwCn3Zd
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKzRlYnf2O
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8db6uaTLt6
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hZV0COM1d
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpQvVUuB9J
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2yuToyKUt
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGflPbcQhg
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqlQ1ggjqK
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHIoDyKUyQ
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3s90FDdbk
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyEAeVUvmb
　　「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnc4gDtyt7
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkV6R5xFjB
　　『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。』278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJweIce4vn
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwU8VonLc7
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboMzdF9Zig
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX62MZCJWei
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5UDYKap9l
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2yGFaQ5zE
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaxsg3YVVT
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDnu2mvOUT
　　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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS2WZKc0lL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KBsC4maBv
　　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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94wbx5E1Tq
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuHRpjXhCK
　　「……我不知道啦。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL248rB7gwl
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOEf7EIkKM
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipKlvOVK55
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaUSO3Aiob
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MmYBF8V9B
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR78VVJEGCZ
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VOc91yLoX
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHVXavwK52
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlqVmeQare
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglVPkIQNVp
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB6xQZlnep
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHypjB6eBLl
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vcmB3QKXU
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJIXDHY3od
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrCcbzRnH1
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcN7u15L8n
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBDzzfRfyo
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc4CB4KDo7
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8uksJUrke
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjdOFQFrz9
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pIjeOXtCi
　　※278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvClVafkxJ
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7Fy9I3qTC
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yVYC7UaiV
　　「紫藤……？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNE0PoeD9kK
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJffObH3Ve
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiouAplyhZN
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRfFtxYw0H
　　「紫藤？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z0ccbhL6H
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2hOfWnxVd
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQB0vW2onu
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5borDEifLM
　　「紫藤！」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsTb0HT3JB
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCddtzjguf9
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbaGJ0jJ1i
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS9mNrUEIb
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoat3CMOOh
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxHTqHIcbR
　　「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7MlJ5sQfH
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVvXFFtzJH
　　「……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。

278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3koqzhR4j
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ6ZXa4THA
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JVP4djdmE
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTAEiF04he
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhBFjoMs0o
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q2ijxR2HH
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KolyNEdAV
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HP7eGnjLN
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5UhMhPsVZ
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7D8JM72rI
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqQnBPVWeT
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOaYb4oCrI
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAH0LWxp0U
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBbZfWiZGy
　　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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TIZVHgOcq
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06EGZyiaJP
　　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——278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneGvF67guu
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwHLZIroZi
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMdYOQh6Kr
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgXq84kOQe
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsw57maI46
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAwlKHunIn
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqDkT5zSHe
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ4bQ8o71K
　　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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfb7UkTD61
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7YfR2GJUJ
　　不能再停滯不前了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4et7iHIzF
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsGNsIOnpg
　　自己正成長著。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPZDpRE9GV
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaSKc2J5c8
　　紫藤這麼相信。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFO562rQK9
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx507Y0efH