當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m2WQM4kak
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07T08Vl0F8
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbbdJLf5Ai
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UBkSCFsOu
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTxdkZ7lAW
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMIkDDJYXh
　　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：406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7qLWzFS5I
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbxHZGRCBf
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhckpE3Bg1u
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc8vDCZWuh
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX3NXFbSES
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e0gUv1Tzm
　　「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。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUDgdgoymd
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0vVqURj55

　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMRZnaN8Ks
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBGCdddKqx
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxoNDITcRs
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NosQ23wBb
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATnZJuNqjo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRDWlJtnDZ
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxT6Y3QYWj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuCrX0Elvl
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb2TP9ZBYa
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStejVrIi73
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBf2UNLgi0
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBFw1DDdrc
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriiBtajMsH
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzKviSQFYa
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOJQCD1to3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhKrxbPDIx
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAjqtFa9FF
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XGcciJsyA
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidNGyvcxd8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD1oeXQJ9r
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyJB2a6XOq
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4YO3GtZpl
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpmxHbZb87
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmdqOB6K1u
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8804ZwSSu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcwqW0786P
　　「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。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZvQPz7EPR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStGYxuEUgc
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKHMFNUmFt
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fsBg7QEqw
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sXHmy0Pp5
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC0R3aH63c
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRobEfvwqY
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SuqlWYeXW
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszkbc0DtRh
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvONumqu3nh
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfpB0A3x8S
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qQEcxK72X
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh54b0I9OBb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwS56O8v7e
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlYr9B2OOZ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYtN6H86h0
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG5xIKFOti
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UfFH325be
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppPu2LVeHg
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IBg69Bq48
　　「嗯……好。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGMlfCm4Fc
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvclEAV62VT
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmf43wMSRP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfiuI5t7m4
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukwM10lKjV
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iZY3xVP7D
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQE3zssfGM
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PtTUgkw9O
　　「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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL64bhUBzb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNs8RTw4Rh
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrlsPop7L7
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuWIU3D7vY
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNulNi3FOSJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlMNUG7Dn7
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0UR6CWYUu
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZL0NhZoQP
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn7BRCFf9l
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2qYvTPakQ
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjBo9FvWBq
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MQpZoXuC8
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkLTk7MXQP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK0neAkMbi
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY35PaNFS3Z
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr7zTEWmDe
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN0wAOwYq4
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3IofTzGvb
　　「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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmrmVHmkhO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKC7L7Z7GX
　　『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。』406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yA8ytguyY
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCHkq8dxqv
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuejVauhlKG
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRuvBCUpmH
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMAPsV6PtG
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvUqDpYXje
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRH8sjRDBU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfYzn1i1pf
　　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？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GR4M5Rvsa
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡque3GTmjzq
　　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？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8m6ckmmOU
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJfaHmLXpu
　　「……我不知道啦。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw47ETlhiT
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWmdqITTlt
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4FxaIsf0e
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIshyKKI1Rt
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8petyzqbkt
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgyDFtAOxD
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFg02TjDt6
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNS7dRXy39
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1XIC5yd2m
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioGK650GHF
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhAnupuVCk
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARKmave3Lg
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcTal3KvXO
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZRyLNPEOh
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1lTB7df2Z
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp46vvj9xL
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4BultecMe
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzxwtHCIJO
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwuyhucs3I
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu6Sm4crRP
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDqqfBre4h
　　※406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgNAQNf2Mw
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoie5FKakeb
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsax0IJnh0
　　「紫藤……？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHb5Hyu14C
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD2TdzPPYs
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAlR8hqUNS
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr93il4ROq
　　「紫藤？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnnwhwjxDj
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF4wTYPVuL
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbyoTSI34m
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp12Q4jtorl
　　「紫藤！」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjZqFOO07k
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHxBIUx9sf
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07grhJndd3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DE0lfh6CV
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTrULt1E4z
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuDLAdaCod
　　「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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjxm1tHWQJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl4lxd1t1P
　　「……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。

406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY18QLEqNo8
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRN4iCdJ4f
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsKOtNX7Vy
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AvKtMsjFf
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1QxfeRkof
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ05aLPiB6l
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL0pKJhDwZ
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eV8oo9hp3
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATMcN48nrp
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIqzKTXgqA
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafI1f8ClQo
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QyP4CNPOM
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylZ73j6Efz
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZzF4nIOmU
　　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？406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4jGWSwRgJ
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNCFZXxkrZ
　　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——406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUh7LT5Zr8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvuRTLeBNT
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lybHs1zJR
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNVyddNr33
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD7aDHmSG8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TRMOdGsfG
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPcGxLUaBF
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRUc5DVa56
　　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。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikcmUx4Ijp
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0tXoL7VFL
　　不能再停滯不前了。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxORYj4y6oF
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVsuKk26Se
　　自己正成長著。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkP5QIcUzm
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMsWSjVMxi
　　紫藤這麼相信。406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5orkR4z62I
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VWo4A2ClX