Today was going... well, let's just say Kaito regretted even getting out of bed. The ivory haired boy was sat at a table surrounded by 'friends', but in reality, they were simply overly familiar acquaintances. As they laughed and made small talk, Kaito reminded himself for the umpteenth time that he did not have 'friends' just people that used him for his money. He was fine with this arrangement, it was better than being alone, he used them for the company as well. A temporary solution to the hole in his life he did not know how to fill for the long-term. Besides, he wasn’t deluded, he was very well aware that his personality was abrasive to others, he accepted that buying friendship was probably the only way he would find even a modicum of companionship. While this was more like a business transaction, nothing genuine about it, he was content enough. It kept him from being lonely, but most importantly from getting hurt again. He never doubted where he stood with these people. They were all chatting about their classes now, giggling, flirting, he could see them pairing off. He had come with his own 'date', but he wasn't in the mood. He rarely was these days. He didn’t feel like entertaining her, he could see the boredom on her face, knew that she wished to go through the motions... but he didn’t care. His chin rested on his knuckles, his mood only worsened as he took in his surroundings. He did NOT want to come here in the first place, but the girls insisted on going to the amusement park, and they had a way of wearing down one's patience. What was he supposed to do? Make them cry? The tears they threatened him with were most likely fake, but it was one of his few weaknesses. He didn't want to be that guy. This place... it brought back extremely painful memories. As he watched couples pass by, he could only think of her and that was never good. Memory lane was not a fond place for him, but as he saw a girl that looked almost exactly like her pass by, the memories flooded his brain despite him.
It was a few years prior. They were walking by this very same food court, Kaito had been less confident, more genuine in those days. Their fathers were unlikely friends, having met at a few parties. The men ignorantly assumed their children would surely get along just as smoothly. No one could have guessed just how wrong they would be. A few times a week Kaito was sent to show the Kitogawa heiress a good time, to impress her father originally, but after time passed, it became clear that their fathers were hoping a relationship would blossom between the two of them. While they were never forced to make it official, it was heavily implied that they were expected to go in that direction.
On one particular evening the two decided to go to this amusement park, it seemed like a good way to busy themselves, and it was relatively low pressure as far as a conversation was considered, but over the course of their 'date', Kaito began to see her differently. Maybe it was the way she screamed on the rides, that calm and icy girl he had come to know belting out such a loud, unfiltered scream had been such a surprise he broke out in laughter. Or maybe it was the embarrassment that followed, but he could actually see where their fathers were coming from. For the first time, he could see himself cutting the bullshit for someone. She could be a total pain in the ass sometimes, but he kind of liked that about her at the same time. It made it easier for him to forgive his own shortcomings.
“What is wrong with you!? What makes you think I would ever want to do that with you!?”
He felt as though he had been stabbed, hell, a knife might have been kinder. He let her go, stunned, but... things never healed after that. He took the hint, but his feelings had shifted to spite, cruelty.
For the most part... he hated her. It was easier to be cruel to her than to accept that she had wounded him, to face his pain. Shiori had adopted harshness as well, neither of them tried to talk through the ill-received attempt for a kiss... and he hated this place ever since. Deciding against ruining the group date, Kaito paid for the meals of his companions and walked away. He left the girl he was with behind, shoving both hands in his pockets as he tried to remember where the exit was. His feet leading him out, he sighed trying to push aside remnants of his memories here that flashed before his eyes. She was everywhere here. He had to get out. It was driving him absolutely mad, ”Where the fuck is the exit? Despite his semi-formal attire, Kaito had the mouth of a sailor when angry. It earned him a few surprised looks from people attending, and a couple of nasty ones from disapproving parents, not that he cared. What did their disapproval mean for him? He didn't know them, their opinions were irrelevant at best. She's head over heels for that guy, but what's so damn special about him...?! He had another girl all over him right in front of her eyes and she doesn't even care! What fucking ever... He practically had dark tendrils of pure, unbridled rage pouring from his form. He needed out of here, he needed a distraction, neede to think about anything else, anyone else but her.