當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLp8WoKNNJ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRYhfklFE4
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgG88jj7al
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxulpFcdP8I
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuVMAYAqjk
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyjUKVRgZq
　　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：407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQDc5lKzBt
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqs0fbeba7
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAKShkeHwG
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs8aVFB86O
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykyZHebt6w
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKmoSthodr
　　「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。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKPyjNp5Oj
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhzwt7e0Ve

　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXKtgdnupl
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKEZ43Thsr
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2hfEKvXPa
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRaDTp544J
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYD03xND4v
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8u5W2I4cx
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Be5CAPZIP
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg01dUKrbGf
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9zNGjsHOs
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTwpT3j1Rm
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CsGJ45gjQ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7iXtYE4ge
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFFKnFD6iB
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfJD9zmq3Z
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBss2XQM5BZ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrSkruxthj
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdk0xIwyKh
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLiN35qvt4
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkO9sqGMj5
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJHF7LiCcD
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7PoVQLSpc
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVhDjEU2mY
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCand69C0v
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMQfEWigJN
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReWFA2WNjS
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVuK9OQjiN
　　「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。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UlCBiFBTS
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2awQOM846b
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvND8ht1mwa
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqqK4Zttnl
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Rgg16Hxji
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFjRyCtrta
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH4vqVJxAO
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSu4E59GGM
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZUV05IZFR
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplYr1fMdGE
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIChof9srU2
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKwBjhGGzC
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDhOCUL42i
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iPPFVYsU9
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkndIJTdYi
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15kAOxDsol
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKi9fC1eOs
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSshbcjIsRs
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8Re2tM3YZ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRPJKNRGqE
　　「嗯……好。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPzV51V6FT
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1Dz7zhyNV
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1IbTCa0hn
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyqLLWZrwz
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAWueWxqSV
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnozfFzqnK
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP3m4ZYgpC
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2iifkWl4E
　　「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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aYmuOjTDD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y7Fd8nOwA
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6isNbXvum9
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfk3CMS4Vn
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xxMv55U3F
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJbZlE6HQy
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSICIjN3v3y
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvLTjPMvlf
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItkqLxVcB4
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyBIFoJTNq
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1ryUywDvq
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvBOsCBfV7
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX4V0CPeql
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzrHPu1WWF
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGTgeEndlg
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfe7yp0upz
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgSUWgouhf
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlmBzBIIjM
　　「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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WeFfpib2A
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7oCAEsRm5
　　『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。』407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4PcnJO5ui
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkqqFeB4Ux
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhatq4s390
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4utv6Jv5r
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP03gYAiWw7
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7CAKWNUd9
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNW6q3WL62
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDZZ15dC43
　　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？407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9wjh9RWvB
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyu3cvN97v
　　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？407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cWS9OMuyJ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc00hXf81TL
　　「……我不知道啦。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOt3Z30M0d
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiJ8qWVGw2
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6ybwI5S3H
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigHOwjXvzv
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuRkVHT0DF
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmsj8ZnixU
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uS6ejukME
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXCzMIAwqz
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIDGqCaJL0
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD54XRl6eRi
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rhYui08JB
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj7kHEaUu7
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUMpsE6AYT
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkTXrral8X
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXhz1Qhh1E
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn6fE3wOlv
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXQecQobsM
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVjSss2wPx
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjTklWRLzq
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YNNfYtJXN
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6PJgVwOj1
　　※407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uiSJH4gUJ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLQEqgq07K
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MoRv8vuFG
　　「紫藤……？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5PPHQiVNo
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfj0EA8hr9
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaJhnhmY2D
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYG6JFOo0t
　　「紫藤？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu1zg1r6dE
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4qUdLOly3
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU77A9rXci
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDmQhvIKwE
　　「紫藤！」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnZHYlqqwb
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6QdAZyJg4
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSNxnuPwVq
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQcZcXC8Pw
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaL0B3EYEa
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvpmfS1x2z
　　「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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SlfjC7lff
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYsUgE9oQ
　　「……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。

407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Vg0ysEQt
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfLZDKqtNA
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aYbHtn2eF
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zxgHkT367
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRYndIbpNx
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer5YBsts0e
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6UPzilm6G
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MZDyb2OZU
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB8shsvGeM
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86a0jYkBhb
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGrF1EWhcP
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmLvMqy5A8
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhzAOlkuqP
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVy987Vtkl
　　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？407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgFtoKZWUS
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX8vbwGAxo
　　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——407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieke3iaEPh
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2hZBRRtUO
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDK2pSbzFI
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9HrSsF1Qj
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56M5rvRJnW
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylzwpl1Wum
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cVDRaaGBy
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo11ABzQRh
　　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。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI66dYmCH5U
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwL9Qs0CKI
　　不能再停滯不前了。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4UQiIcyU9
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrSuOFGgQb
　　自己正成長著。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi2JRnEPRU
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtmPwshBp2
　　紫藤這麼相信。407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b7TF9MZkr
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJwDTPnGHo