當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbOEzsOhMB
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKzKDs7cnN
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B9hHMWRqa
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLjGN7x6Dn
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGlz3wPEcW
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf5R6alA4y
　　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：307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiLUm9iNBZ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtccL5VU93B
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkRgWLEJ90
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XGpe3IDnx
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EuYDIwUFl
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBcgbiuBPu
　　「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。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBhcOfTzbz
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhza9NgaH8a

　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTGbXMEUrZ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiC8pxslxC
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i6y2stjzQ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig8F0TF9sl
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls0g22RyYi
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAuK5j7KPb
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrcRnmbMb3
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfELdf7hTp5
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWurk3M2IBf
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPHlkx6BSX
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXSKqNFMeU
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH78fQsbJ5q
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv70966VI1
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbNjwGW4jG
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLhVQHwRaw
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprUEff3p8h
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnwMat7iRr
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnYOTLTB2D
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9QzFjjsJT
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAsWULNk83
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj0tVdtQXZ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMez9QFsmW
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQLbKs3Eoy
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE9wflTiOi
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBNpvRXhpN
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOySMGrZqxi
　　「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。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPSVXZ5g3T
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIFQ6vyumP
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUaGhc6nbz
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmZadONENH
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E48VIxX3P
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCI3yZX8qf
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN8wxMni9C
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbE7n5WLrV
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWrsjDSdg9
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCObeCfmkRb
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw0Cy2LTDL
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8HtI44Ym1
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBqvCaNymK
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuJoEUgVTg
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdRq7bni2C
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsjtx2srtG
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs9qjClEnW
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLknYFsUaj4
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87e6RsVgDf
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN13h66cy70
　　「嗯……好。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZKTmGhUJc
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS9iZqRUlk
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAIOEilwaN
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcgGBJLUxB
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Cq6JUmvWN
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1QsytCYLx
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxky5xHIrTU
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLPhHMOCOA
　　「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqTZDj5CNX
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehkf1iIFvf
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfXG614SHX
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40DgmIPG4b
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH7SrQF1aE
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJogF6wFzL
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa25Qey1MB0
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi492W1TjG3
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0vFz9flyo
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JjXQ3U3Wq
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl6FD1hdGC
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTdIcphqRA
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86s5PIYAoJ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDccpK8xWD6
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZHb7fOFm1
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHh73aOktp
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF1dKAnFS5
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf5Ey3NhnC
　　「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9sGIC7aqp
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5lKoiNUmW
　　『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。』307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztmjTfF7JX
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWT2xzDJ3s
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSeSb4Izmc
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiAAgx4vOE
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzxvMWZIV3
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuW1RW7LOP
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M1lAMMZHx
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO0Y869Euv
　　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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhAXgn7Gyf
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUybUhBB4m4
　　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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriUQG9YHOr
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TUcKNpggC
　　「……我不知道啦。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiBsCuls5s
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVzzOnMCId
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t0dNWSFIs
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TxFA3mn4l
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zahoKfj5d
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAmx70ilO0
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUCqqqoWwg
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraIKFLzXHL
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtlpponbbo
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSEhKBEZON
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa40AdNluNb
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SOco5CLNJ
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0srCx25l3
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrV9Lj7ap7
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgprUUEVaH
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMmAm013Ur
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwZSJmgV6B
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdioRnw8BDr
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEj12GSF5G
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97a3jWEBTV
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZBw4BNlKo
　　※307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGNfJ2KuW7
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrjOFkMySq
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sqOV69PNj
　　「紫藤……？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDXYm3X0Rs
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A3MDEzsqF
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCvHKH7c5A
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgpfOyHtfl
　　「紫藤？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgJQNP6pgO
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NFgxhidEy
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7GMg4Se3g
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekZKHJf5qq
　　「紫藤！」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKEYiZjXy2
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4VRjszMIk
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOjklsx8uh
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEogUtHmIVo
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LroaYXADn
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZsrUvEHPX
　　「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNplLnRmL6
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkgmtDYj5z
　　「……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。

307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1adsmMDcS
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KR3GAYLaV
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hT16gYgqv
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQndQKhEEg
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3GXGEKdbF
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG2zaHVmJN
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePzMhHFcRh
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghBQ6TavDY
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrymrzfLOyO
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1AvBwgHB5
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3YjyLtt45
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzjibjKLHK
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGV3jn3YWl
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIuxxecP9R
　　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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCyDKM3UR5
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuukSAekwt
　　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——307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxieuRcpH1
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPMUSakIsz
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGsK6cMNL4
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO3kUxnU22
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKeLDglW0k
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq21QSKSAjk
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzfrCzEAQq
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHWaNp6s0U
　　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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsbUZl6Z23
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFA6iwP4b4
　　不能再停滯不前了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7ltqUZRT8
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcXYmMPLdT
　　自己正成長著。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIv1xSWSMP
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ603XddULdw
　　紫藤這麼相信。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk4kVU603l
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hfiy3pc7F