當杜若回到家時，夜已經深了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovWsXWyHYc
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL0DCQBgQE
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7X3eNkH1G
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoVHPHnmPA
　　「怎麼這麼晚？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT0YNZS3Gm
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcGZLaP6us
　　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：405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhdyfDsclF
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFofd6NkGLH
　　「和朋友在鎮裡玩過頭了，不小心就拖到現在了、嘿嘿。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne7nIUIAop
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMDaMQ96yC
　　這樣……應該不算是說謊吧？405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0u7E9lYil
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOLV7wxSvq
　　「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。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYeUINounj
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKWed9CsdW

　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25IFwhNkzo
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrloCyvsd6
　　「當然吃了，我才沒有忘記喔！」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3LtwnGduh
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNXD3WPIsZ
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25Ep54Muvn
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitlAAmLeZX
　　「但我還是要吃！」杜若精神奕奕地舉高手繼續說道。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZmDniQVld
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg8KELaQPk
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoZ3mHHZF3
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDm4ZI9BP9
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlI2m1auwG
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD17UiXp0h
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo8Qeqk0jP
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33y5Y8R4MM
　　「「感謝神今天也賜予我們豐厚的一餐。」」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sV8jBZrdV
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhv3ri85sB
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6KoZSolWk
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk77nLwUEfd
　　「朋友是鎮裡的人嗎？」嚥下一口後，陶壺叔隨口地問。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31asigeZQ7
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8MSZj6obw
　　「嗯，是一個在鎮裡長大的女孩子喔！」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ORGdKnIXE
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GLsIlQldV
　　「喔？是個怎樣的女孩子呀？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PuhFrdB7T
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeDqie7962
　　杜若的腦袋中立刻浮現了紫藤那總是板著的臉。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpH1umVF65
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7md1IkX14
　　「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。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNdBMJFPla
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0AkDCzJCV
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sVSpCFcXy
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurHbra7jhE
　　「哈哈哈！那可還真是辛苦人家了。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzJByymVPz
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXIStzeNiW
　　「咦？為什麼嘛！」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEGHjh4CnN
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSbXmEUY9y
　　陶壺叔沒有回答，只是繼續大笑了幾聲後又喝了口湯。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAONBhfhoD5
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxNqdSYskI
　　「……可不要給人家添麻煩了呀。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUsBWcvqrO
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWftZh81dS5
　　「才——」

　　正要回答時，紫藤按著胸口乾嘔的畫面卻在腦海中浮現。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugyB76cm1Z
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZjqQ78duw
　　「才不會咧……」杜若心虛地別過了頭。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJiiIqo6EG
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnS8DPZDAo
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo18YRJQFZV
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0lU1ZYUIc
　　「好啦、趁著水還熱著趕快去洗澡睡覺吧。我也要休息了。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCtSHxiDHK
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbcrDw4uW2
　　「嗯……好。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmuGTLzsqc
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaemYf0Jk6
　　說完，陶壺叔就站起身離開了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zfKoVwCG9
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIaX030U1S
　　……自己有給紫藤添麻煩嗎？405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhpEpg5LKl
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNfXYa7qdb
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGwL10Euhm
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKcnK8Ikz3
　　「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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IigWjJDtQ
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQYsrmMCpj
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XtTWHhhof
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOzLoQVMez
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLDjg30cFW
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QYZEdx1lF
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVb9UTIant
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurfmRYH2Py
　　就連這麼任性的要求，陶壺叔也都笑著接受了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp1t4qsIsi
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRYnSvWTc2
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdG56i6oe8
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLP6XmTOa0
　　對於這樣的陶壺叔，杜若就算說再多次謝謝也不足夠。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61dp6bLQAA
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKfOt6er8B
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffkvgMG8Ub
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzJG4WJJQZ
　　但即使如此……也輪到自己幫助陶壺叔了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYnEmLrctS
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjLyrfXVcr
　　「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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbrHRqWFwK
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3IXdnXYQs
　　『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。』405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmR5K0bEKl
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvfNynp2KV
　　「可是……我也很擔心陶壺叔啊。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNgzc1anQw
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfUPptGVzw
　　『那杜若又為什麼不問問陶壺叔呢？』405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJyv9qvhfJ
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykP243GLae
　　「那是因為……」杜若頓時被問得說不出話了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡregkEf0T2F
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MXtaPWsj5
　　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？405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcIaPKTelZ
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXQwvy17z2
　　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？405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH18rN8X9lQ
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyXZZVIeBU
　　「……我不知道啦。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWX7SAJLbC
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnqyML4Ir1
　　杜若鬧彆扭似地瞥向一旁，卻在這時候想起了紫藤的臉。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PlMwrsPB4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WBWQo59KB
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U7zjs0KoV
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSboricbNA4
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJuBjS4vPR
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0lVUJCKgl
　　但就算卑鄙也好，杜若也不想要再孤身一人了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22FiCG9uTO
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEFGn8SncC
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAY9ddiSuX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfUBbYuGaJ
　　「……可以告訴我到底要怎麼做嗎？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmdltKUYas
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogFQ03g1Oe
　　杜若抿緊了下唇、像是在尋求解答似地轉過了頭。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfQMmWw7e2
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDPaN4S4BT
　　「爸爸、媽媽。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7jbvIuLmk
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6W3HSOoq5
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtQ113wtHO
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrTOUZ42cz
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡervipj1Q5d
　　※405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKYZt8Jjfa
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptQ0HbUCHb
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz32wNAah8M
　　「紫藤……？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDntRekpHV
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMvLsZ5OjV
　　一道熟悉的聲音掠過耳旁。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjQhpM96lO
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ0HEpiI6Z
　　「紫藤？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FnOLjkFWy
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXsiHDl9y6
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh9PfZi3tW
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bZNeQ14YD
　　「紫藤！」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gNGNKrkAn
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH33FVIFjKc
　　「……我在！怎麼了嗎？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgojLB7Fd5b
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJf0kptBHi
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzW6zsc8L8
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiodowe13v
　　「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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOK94yCXfo
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOv3cHXTAi
　　「……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。

405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP5JTQebvF
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTVS66sThq
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq6ltbo5De
　　「也沒有生病、要喝點熱水嗎？」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KnNaHPZSG
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol2vhJyRyW
　　「不、不是那樣的……」紫藤甩開似地搖了搖頭，緊接著說：405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj0kc9xw73
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ4Ep3w8R6
　　「我去洗把臉就好。」405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbqINY5M1Y
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX5yHk5OUo
　　說完，紫藤便拉開門逃跑似地跑了出去。

405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl1IPrwoFq
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41fPhn27k
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2Sbtttm0N
　　鏡中映出的自己，簡直就像是剛淋了雨一樣狼狽。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjyHsE6oP8
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQS4iTILoM
　　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？405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh1QeoHepX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc2msquZtX
　　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——405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNETzRbIRX
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4x4xQFM4B
　　——到時、自己必定要親手手刃那個奪走自己一切的人。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkjkycOU96
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmozhghelBJ
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwLZ72W2cE
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvROKITHKkM
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ8Q1amgqw
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi2K18uky4
　　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。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4DqyIVglE
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdetxEqLhtp
　　不能再停滯不前了。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAEpRmDiy4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3l4Peq8jl
　　自己正成長著。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXMpy8Vo9l
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPLItjBa41
　　紫藤這麼相信。405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6szJygJQ4
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsU2F3XyHQ