當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXgBLx9TZJ
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6UkPgTQWT
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0O8pC15qP
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZso52lRvK
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwibyKEHT8o
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxljZvju9dz
　　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：331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxA5DpCkXa
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxHjjODTWF
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcp0CKZfKw
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqcW0xGoqY
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0p4sc6aQ2
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaY0NuIArc
　　「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。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIC36M3rbd
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEh1wafxTP

　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ858vgnWjUx
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdABpkwP5c
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi7XxeZ6eS
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ2KygYSVO
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqMn8Xsni2
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j8Rvjvx8P
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsYY0vMuj8
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QwAwxiCP8
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPHbRlCpdu
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ae2vblKkr
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3mIXTY8W0
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSSQMwwab7
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACThfDzLUF
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEKmbGy3ZD
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTsbmrEsqs
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuBppG66L5
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaJihucSkf
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBDTHPkj7f
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XYkawea8U
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPprAld6XA0
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqWHCdG66G
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT5X6PkBXm
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW3VHTL0jb
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5oeXsapcw
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhwfud4Zqv
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTblJb5ejFg
　　「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。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa95C6m1lT
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvcLWR2PUm
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T3GET36UH
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFG9VfGGuP
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHqrSxLB5F
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnUN4jHcke
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91OHm4T7TH
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkQV8M5uol
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1WfAfMhpc
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK136IhnM80
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi7MKbvwoD
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqbGAmSgLI
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm4MACG8KQ
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIk0DLKz6U
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrnCe4IBOJ
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h3VS3znWJ
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ixyas6cdB
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwKnO1H1rF
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCgFZyIohV
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SEVUZHJcn
　　「嗯……好。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM51HWuWxaH
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm5d4nOGVN
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn18IThIbt
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtiYhsyQhA
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdVu0AH5Il
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYEPpVsY2F
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlphLcxLGi4
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCMkK9Dn8I
　　「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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpH13CavAz
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx1fficxGc
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH4ptDaPgh
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERVpSG72n1
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hiJ6wYDNg
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7nAAZliAz
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflWCGte49B
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG73zhX7QUa
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY2uoFKxag
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkkrOzpOnU
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpYnkaAFH0
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXwSay4y20
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2j2i2CQAX
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7SpBGNAF3
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUTNwVAgDN
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPjUeAu1ky
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4ozJakSaH
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUBF7gP3Zt
　　「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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAmKjpN8d7
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gzOuOG1dY
　　『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。』331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMSJtz64uF
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOdwznMlN7
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16LiLgvgEm
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn32jH2D981
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFezgvmJaH
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltnPmTa1Ib
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaloPwzK5ry
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EkEHe4kV6
　　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？331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFow4bJIRh
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1U28lHZ15
　　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？331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGDbutBJ2G
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdnPgTQcaI
　　「……我不知道啦。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWzgXpGrse
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSYpvVPEH5
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzJLuuNUL9
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3Q5pczVmi
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirNnBeqbT2
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8j4LfCudT
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoESCoVLygf
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z1GKHg1pD
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07Cs11bz4u
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazUcnj7oK9
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTN9R7rjNw
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1xnZ1eBOD
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87rr3rzVna
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBhTX7QeS5
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu6ajq6rWZ
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6UfLdQegV
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aiCwAmMQq
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1adGrMM6E
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEXFtlgJTA
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDRqqZdcTt
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixQl9fSwSC
　　※331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zqhndlc2E
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh4WIf4ct1
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr4AmZyfXp
　　「紫藤……？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvIyeJ2Ywi
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw8h5OwYD4
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpq4GajqJE
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0udotrqEEq
　　「紫藤？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO2sOqJ5dz
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0copfgyjjc
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWZvHA1lJG
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyOUValITN
　　「紫藤！」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZnwFBKXLW
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYUYTlqEsj
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVP3uDISJi
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV0pMPswfM
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTYTa2uzx9
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbOfzVfFHx
　　「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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeesntORcxh
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGADqWqhKJP
　　「……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。

331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U35v8peyw
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcW13Bx8QX
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6pLIGLCv0
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm6nJMVxVp
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIuvCRUdey
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2nXIS7TVE
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDmWCpgtPO
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudskpg0ADm
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa400MpHLd
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOO0WPKGZz
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlsSzAZACM
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LB5AQqrg3
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I7yKiYEPr
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOxhoGulBv
　　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？331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPKVGqsGsw
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB9uLqMvsj
　　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——331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXVR538vJ4
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyrcskRtS8
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUirBoNJjxo
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPIBGh8TiB
　　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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu8TPDi95N
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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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVF1LwNJu5
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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。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY4cnuOfzM
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　　不能再停滯不前了。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS7IgYt9Rn
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRN1YhL2mx
　　自己正成長著。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe2R89LGJX
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　　紫藤這麼相信。331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvwbC7V7XX
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