The sun has not yet risen when Cyril makes his way to the school garden the next morning. Isabell had told him yesterday that he should be at the garden before classes start, but she didn't give him an exact time. Cyril prefers to get there as early as possible; he doesn't care if he misses the first lecture, but he still wants to get things over with quickly.

Will he really meet the masked man?

Isabell could definitely be described as an oddball with her behavior, but she seems to be an honest person. She's unlikely to lure him into a trap. Why would anyone want to set a trap for a normal, insignificant student like Cyril?

But what interests him a little more than the masked man is the feeling that Isabell triggers in him. He doesn't have a crush on her or anything like that, but the student seems somehow familiar, like an old friend - even though Cyril met her for the first time yesterday. Who does she remind him of?

The school garden seems to be empty. It somehow feels wrong to be in a school at such an early hour. Cyril lets his gaze wander over the garden: The silence and the cool morning air feel incredibly good. It's one of those moments that you can't quite describe in words. You simply have to experience this harmonious atmosphere for yourself to understand the feeling.

"It's early. The time. You're early, Cyril."

Cyril recognizes the blue-haired lady's voice immediately.

“Morning Isabell, I-”

He pauses when he sees Isabell's companion: A student with a tired look on his face. With his hands in his trouser pockets, his posture looks a little like Cyril's. His long black hair hangs limply down from his head, covering his right eye.

Is this the true form of the masked man? A possible member of Penumbra?

His body looks thin, almost gaunt, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Most of his fighting power comes from his technique. If this guy has what it takes, he could be a match for Cyril, despite his physique.

Cyril extends his hand to greet the student:

"Yo! I'm Cyril and you are?"

The black-haired student reaches for his hair and sighs in exasperation.

"Ey yo... No matter how many times I do this... It always feels so weird..."

“It doesn't matter, Kagen.” Isabell replies, "Fulfill it. Your deal."

"Yeah, yeah, sure. After all, you paid me for it."

Cyril is confused.

Paid? Did Isabell give this guy money to meet Cyril? But who does he mean by “you”?

"H-hey, Kagen, right? I don't know if I'm allowed to say this here, but you're the guy, right?"

“The guy?” Kagen looks surprised until he lets out another sigh:

"Ah, I see. The masked man, yes?" He looks over at Isabell:

"Did you lure him here with that? Ey, I mean, it's none of my business, but I really don't understand what your plan is."

'Lured him here'? 'Your plan'?

“W-wait!” Cyril takes a step back, "He's the masked man, isn't he? You said I was going to meet him here, Isabell."

Isabell stares blankly at Cyril.

Is this all really a trap? But why? What for?

"Don't worry. You will meet him, but it will be awkward. The process of being able to meet him."

Kagen seems surprised himself.

"Really, yo? You know who this mask guy is?"

"Yeah, but you're going to fulfill our deal first and then you're leaving it. The school garden."

The black-haired student sighs for the third time:

“Ey... I'll do it, but I would have liked to meet the masked man too.”

His eyes fall on Cyril:

“Sorry Mulligan, but this might hurt a bit right now.”

“Wha-”

Before Cyril can react, Kagen is already pouncing on him.

“Argh!”

Kagen holds Cyril's head with both hands and presses his thumbs against his temples. His grip and pressure with his thumbs is so firm that Cyril cries out in pain.

“Shit... It was a trap!” He looks to Isabell; even in this moment of betrayal, her expression remains motionless. No emotion seems to pass her face for even a moment.

Cyril grabs Kagen's wrists with both hands.

"Ey, Mulligen. Take it easy." Replies Kagen nervously, “I'll make it quick, yeah?”

He looks deep into Cyril's eyes. It seems as if Kagen is paralyzing him with his gaze. He can't muster the strength to push him away.

Something is wrong. I feel powerless.

The pressure against his temples is getting so strong that Cyril feels like he's going to pass out.

“W-wait-are you... using a Lacrima?”

Kagen doesn't respond, but instead utters the words that confirm Cyril's guess:

"「 ATHAZAGORAPHOBIA 」"

It's a Lacrima. Kagen is using it against him right now.

Cyril's vision goes black, but before his consciousness disappears completely, he remembers the words Isabell had said last night:

"Hydrangea. Your appearance is just an illusion. A farce. Strange, isn't it?"