當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltPuGB0Q8Y
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtSRci6T3U
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3zzVeOG4G
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGydlJTEOm
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SGCdnj9Xi
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASyE9AERgB
　　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：322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB6mBszRef
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5M4Dgiszj
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AwGbppykC
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrLdQO6One
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjOm2X1wkV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPncJApW4YM
　　「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。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RuKpnEg0x
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJLDPRoq0V

　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qVhW0DGjj
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPctcJb2W8n
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmfWU2eg5m
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3ksQyf6Ys
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKyFjw9M2T
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEDsqetsdg
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt8wVLUDUu
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn6Ouf7PS0
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsckkVOsjp
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG3YPUBpgV
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp7n4xqoFI
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwRHUHcMuL
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrJfWQVoIP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv2iPYSMwl
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRLdMl2wjW
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuZuFQKIci
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjQAoI3q3r
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaxOP94xOs
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWoTDK06jF
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QWOGcOLKS
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2XRDu5n6o
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQLoKy5aJm
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCXs4zdUQC
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mtmXTGq24
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yt4VOkrCS
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJAusnkPKZ
　　「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。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YbxG4MlAO
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTYXgPjaUc
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a6rzV5DXV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK2KCRxdv6
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrF1rqwb6o
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoJDWWAYMm
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDSVkp8USx
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXhalrEloR
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tzl0ZFcVa
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CH27U6lrv
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAATqswA5b
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR79ibTXIeE
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJtgQ24z3g
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqDgJHhLJX
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP5hUE9XSy
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ul66j08LZ
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8bB8Hz9wV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ERRm2HkhO
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZZsZTsnMa
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRCpJY7iGR
　　「嗯……好。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4gTcAUZd2
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLkQXD72uI
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZegsbyHXm
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNXJY9Pnrx
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhfYuHMNoF
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6opaDSaSST
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJYL3NOWe0
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfYmuiUDg3
　　「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRL3Bh7XtH
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoQtahYh7X
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezvRkBZjVy
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxacgBL7Om
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiefp6yyef
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWby8nsrIAr
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBZkARLXdm
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp8NivaqYj
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwj27IxXob
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5648ET7aP
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEmlRMnGTP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GVYXy5izN
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeXauEO2A9
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdtNMhjFCT
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIin0sn03hk
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdipBUqmtN
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YSq9yUqFp
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJiD9umE0n
　　「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYoIpRcS5n
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsrExrLDwF
　　『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。』322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bxG3fMRN3
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBBQNMqz9Q
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaBYHbNYVa
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmPhe9q7Hl
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPjQYy4uG3
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufSviFyRAt
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdijfwrKYX
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDKREpir2z
　　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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh6MzpbaRv
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotz1qe2q4y
　　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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYTtpinarr
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiMhMtq4Bm
　　「……我不知道啦。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgROir488j
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g78qeWYHe
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv93sVbHgy
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69LNW0D2oS
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxmUazVbW4
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Nn76o4Mf
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm0ZOD0nQ4
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomLwSL4v4V
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzkCBFti74
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMmYbAWhGN
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3w4Wpyi90
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoGdluv9g7
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy03tPGBVwX
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbVSrTMqzc
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ50tkXzVrn
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0Gc7Lhg9N
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk5sJoxxDA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbcbfJEmag
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvyGCk9rXO
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB7orQZ8a1
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6b3qvWfRF
　　※322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkakm5LLix6
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS5FFv274t
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JX4Vw7fpz
　　「紫藤……？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94fQZZq4Wp
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wVB9eogXU
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgFYS8rfjs
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNKA2kdztJ
　　「紫藤？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl64OSWwB6c
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcyRNZElPu
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0S29HwJ41
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIx7GcuRYG
　　「紫藤！」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR2LC9FMvN
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa0m7cdag6
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1hYaC7JYd
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf2JcKEPhg
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlhEhXONOf
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQDLV38hDZ
　　「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sbKI4ExPV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZF1SNBszc
　　「……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。

322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzBgWWs4Ej
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORwLpY8n3q
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdOtdmoL84
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEki9EiYZz5
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs3UWpHMux
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLizBYvxHI
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIZ9xXPYAn
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqgtQuKxOk
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSf2hxBMSh
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFpx8K4SUH
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPim1NrcbqU
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYyzQQMGCY
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYB3gZZrVb
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGRsAF21xV
　　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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilvPuI8dE7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNi6Cfx5p7
　　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——322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLhA6KLc3r
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hGwTyaMOw
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8mjg4EzNZ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOj1V03hC7
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu8EUb8Fdt
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lwygJrPZ3
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQIQqlnUQA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ211gbIEZ0C
　　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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cgILInhn7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnUd5SwUKo
　　不能再停滯不前了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQYgHiTbdM
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrN0M4D9z7
　　自己正成長著。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLHqGvgl8e
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKlXdto9Me
　　紫藤這麼相信。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7NVLe7zWL
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuUufkngOr