Kenji's animosity towards Darius primarily stems from his failure to be present during a critical moment: the night she died. This absence, compounded by complex personal history, fueled her profound anger and resentment.
The Critical Absence
The core reason for Kenji's strong negative feelings is Darius's absence on the fateful night of her death. From Kenji's perspective, Darius abandoned her when she needed him most, leading to deep betrayal and anger. His failure to show up left her vulnerable and feeling unsupported, which became a significant source of her hatred.
The Complicating Love Triangle
Adding another layer of complexity to their strained relationship is a revealed love triangle. Darius admitted that he deliberately stayed away from Brooklyn because Kenji did not reciprocate his romantic feelings after their prior breakup. This admission reveals that Darius's absence was not merely an oversight but a conscious decision driven by his own emotional pain and the unrequited affection he held for Kenji. While this explains Darius's motivation, it does not alleviate Kenji's anger over his perceived abandonment. Instead, it highlights the intricate and painful history between them, turning a personal conflict into a deeply rooted hatred based on past heartbreaks and perceived betrayal.
This combination of feeling abandoned during a critical time and the emotional baggage of their unreciprocated feelings solidifies Kenji's intense dislike for Darius.
