當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrATVKnDVF
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKv9JrcSJY
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbawR2qDij
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwT8ZYQajJ
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFSPvleStN
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaPXbfBgXb
　　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：308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1YTlmSnYJ
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJawNY0fRg9
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SdUARWq9K
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvFTOFExqw
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIAFIn0hxE
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eT8bBmLzH
　　「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。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYZ8aKNOwM
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAYjYf4vtp

　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUCiN8Wxtn
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFEGGH8XJF
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtgivxAD11
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHPHhxTLOj
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllpZQaSJiz
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldd2SF2BFv
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkuP5bA3O0
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9crdAnSAmo
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAh63ZKslk
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT8MPLeT5p
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UmiD31FRV
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLJkSv7ztm
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj23TeRCjP
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YTow7VYag
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmhIFE2ooJ
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT9O62jWUa
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC13h3Yntj4
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8JhNZFHEo
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3ZM4ZXQWY
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV09oP5dHVP
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rzqselLdd
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRsWouB9oC
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO1O2k9TU3
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDahDjbqHj
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMxZ1mta1m
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdMZkO5w0M
　　「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。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA2FzkBGjR
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKkjlPlYfc
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvBkCWfyR7
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcQPoTXSue
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I18mYgWei
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sz1EUZ4ap
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMk6ZpB4w5
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOvuuitb07
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQRDuyrOj7
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMzauUYMWs
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W0nRhq60i
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDED6MwYnE
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDtqeN7p0i
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5UedB1x92
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l1JRrw9jF
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgKigs9dyY
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzO0j2jtOQ
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxFPnbxkS8
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28NPORLMBV
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89AorQ1EGa
　　「嗯……好。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQbmIUbauU
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHJj8JqL5f
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHaKIwTxh1
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhQXMbndvq
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuZaF2oqpy
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9yXJ8ehaV
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIOa5LuHrL
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHt3ci9JRP
　　「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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUpQ0PsRaE
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgAGystlqB
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR8tZMDyKH
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdgPQ9CmGB
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD19GwjdLd
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZU1KCsSK1
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoBrrXgdtp
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF76LreK6s7
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0mYqNL7CQ
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfve6KyzjS3
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpJJ0mCCFm
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalTumAc09h
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp3oRRpISz
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQhiaIcewg
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfkK4XsZqq
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdUDa8jlWK
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd84eS5MPe
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoFgsHA8uG
　　「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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOqyuTOJ9w
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSYoFP3kfF
　　『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。』308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGdkJkgWmO
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCUqOX5gPH
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyb2zoymh1
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Myvrk5E1
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3B9JYWNIE
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoaloobTjw
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ96RHPWgt
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXJu9ZFuLm
　　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？308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4t1HIW2A7
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHPuNazx4A
　　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？308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfOlYP6QHg
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCRoDyS4xf
　　「……我不知道啦。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW63bbwcLGC
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyw98BHthQ
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbTshUtUky
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsfOnOJ9hA
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UZBtMcFt2
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch3l7TjkNP
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AFjfKvXmC
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb3IpsPnwM
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajeoU6VnSw
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMVoifWzew
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MVNil0cbq
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGYMAkDvlQ
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVgXxfSUPw
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRx5VXKYk3
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YSSrTyJBq
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cqhXrTPyf
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPDlUHiigw
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rEaTmAsqf
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK89ryWAK9
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsXVS0yonO
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIypgBVkecz
　　※308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkmihun7To
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC2aaRJDiL
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3wCHXdgcP
　　「紫藤……？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0RdN3leXg
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN9AKOgVbC
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPuh7Ptzqz
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53c58pIRr5
　　「紫藤？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6ImCGyRCt
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM2JSO8FZB
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrux1jfvXRU
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkqRVkjYbS
　　「紫藤！」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGwPC42qPj
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x0BgAlSmP
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRfnVC6dN4
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cEIsd1njb
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF2H6ZFeij
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoNF9SIjNa
　　「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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh10EmKG8Dm
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0XMv2eEFa
　　「……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。

308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B4R8XHu3v
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvXSZSI9b2
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6VHVhBFXr
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMVFrA7wCX
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oedqGegLs
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW68kwuJjs
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlj59HGnJI
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN3yfkqKnA
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPHjqa01qO
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThLijCDWCK
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMPlpQjAuB
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf9HDuBGHr
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8waHtocdZ6
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa6uHM4vAY
　　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？308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLizBeMmPne
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEJL7D25Tg
　　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——308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlVyNi5aiW
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkmdguYk2b
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWm9ZaE2Ag
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUeR3YmfXi
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0nTpZRCjs
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hLvuFNeYx
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrjCMhG3vB
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDLzpSCqhB
　　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。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXMPsVCflk
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQhY69dGou
　　不能再停滯不前了。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZihPaiTU3S
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqod5ZQYwAQ
　　自己正成長著。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY6B1hr1mb
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX09GbeYnfi
　　紫藤這麼相信。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFE4cyTUh0
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEqCtXXihp