當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRNSNusnbR
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWbMjkL3JH
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vhbiDFd5g
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8cy4hlMVt
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqCof5Lhtx
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzsKKeUShn
　　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：300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp6alyQEe4
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatAvyjOEkK
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdGn6plWNQ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwvL9pXJZ7
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh289j8JBK
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPLmZM4fda
　　「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。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd7rhOK5pV
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbDpVfEFx1

　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG9eGgcPjd
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm62Aj4uD2
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQHOjpAgpx
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdFHOFxtUd
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77FxDgBZhu
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlCw00ZU2u
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96JH7AGPPv
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34M3YT8vG2
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi13hw3AoCe
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSo7BS6Ly6
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqOTdGxZ5a
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHPkTPmWer
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOErnyLzbbU
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmyNtaNyuv
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR4tE34TvK
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM2HdFkb6J
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIVXjNEg3b
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj14Qok3Ce
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2XdYBzqrh
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLQTdy1M8e
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKM8nU1gJw
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7nqaITmBk
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvq0hTPJ23
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbcEVE7Ud0
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHyOO7osTn
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHwDOQopKB
　　「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。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwjcvd4H9n
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLECiKZSLEm
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh2rUhoLsA
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOV3fYU3kR
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMh7QXfpdx
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt8G3RKybM
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaNacX7a4t
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdHkylJ2tG
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqWAuyOSf4
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri6lLTSPSG
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgtNVyupGH
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16sb5sDYxI
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnWfbIAt8z
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLPYoBL6Eq
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oQscmtrsN
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchoo2zgbA3
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfzHFVmQir
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiNVxLqj2K
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrAliG4CcM
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8tOTP5Kus
　　「嗯……好。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MZutOuD9b
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUIPx6EJ68
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7inF5MQvf
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9v7fBCTrp
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdbAjOlbOC
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavzxWwrzwO
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nDXM4aQDF
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsybnsD0si
　　「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzJAD4drtT
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr8UnM3iIu
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMx6UbxFMM
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt4eH0EhWN
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdeTsUcxwN
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYtYaKaovk
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpeJnfnbgR
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNkFmbuAJ5
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTthVCXiNJ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWFj6f4HTp
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXQK3umq2M
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURer6tp8Qr
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrRDKQepbX
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvjBkJhD6D
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gaA2vDSyU
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjMVaUehZu
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn9WYAc6n7
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ563O0f5ade
　　「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xlSYs6YHh
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdgxzg1CPg
　　『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。』300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2j8MIe3Ww
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqzOm0fk6I
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvbGswCN2j
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vPrwiBAmw
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQArqLgBnQ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHEQ7cUcA5
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafOV5oAykU
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGPEnQMk1f
　　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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkRZqK0Guq
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyV9zwFdZX
　　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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSry8Ldf7tB
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt7lrmheJ8
　　「……我不知道啦。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MTpoqgbzy
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin5DcWsccm
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7yazjtBoP
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIA621VPFc
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafD8yQE4my
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxZeWKdP44
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspARxRqkwI
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ghEfFeN2I
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO3ZmWF352
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeZ6XRXeFA
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNRRT24rqi
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZlKS3qMDC
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxBOsaREPN
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17EMZbPa6e
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0pp2rG9Iv
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYfqQ70Jmm
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5WzIEjpgv
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQFGkASJ5u
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcInIqW5kV1
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qb0Ih4vV6
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CszkbRNUr
　　※300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0u608m4TL
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmbBiGmQdx
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs13cdSXrGJ
　　「紫藤……？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r86XEVxoV
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NTzk38S6z
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf9GQcPBpk
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSKHBLBpeb
　　「紫藤？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52i5Zfd60H
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLRKQE9Wz4
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf1b5GVCqj
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCyVjzPiLS
　　「紫藤！」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4t48tn3aT
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuitlptJsj
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltQ55KuRrQ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOFU4FuaBv
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPehPCJLr4
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8lHdmR4bb
　　「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5gDkskuor
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79ksqFJF2H
　　「……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。

300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZopQyd0ulK
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIChbyEkZ84
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WnnWkc7wR
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHNgASSps5
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHJ15QaiPu
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZoleerauE
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNYmykvzy0
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdteC4F6KtC
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmpy6sygjB
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKTRRnV4y1
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC4YN4FNgI
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TBAezj3KJ
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPriKhDsZZ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cL5hzFLqi
　　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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKz7Q4eePk
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vrFgtXE0a
　　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——300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyXFqmmVhG
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hlr7Vcd0L
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkym4KIJo8O
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmlSHIQVh3
　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uJf2WiyrR
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　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQjW0qeGBU
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　　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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPEiOQtbe5
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　　不能再停滯不前了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC56TBiSD3S
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　　自己正成長著。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHtT39xU3g
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　　紫藤這麼相信。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ2z2W3392
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