Work Text:
Byakuya Togami didn't care for love. It was stupid. It was reckless. It was painful.
He told everyone he didn't make friends. He told everyone they were just a waste of time. A bore. He didn't make friends because they hurt.
Byakuya Togami- he was supposed to be the happiest kid in the world, right? He had all the money he'd ever wanted, any book he'd dreamed of reading, but after besting his siblings, he wasn't happy. He was lonely. Then, he met her. The most beautiful girl he'd ever met.
He'd been walking in the park when they bumped into each other, and they'd just clicked. He didn't know why, he hadn't cared. He had a friend. She was always happy to see him, they got food together, bought books, went to movies.
And Togami realized he liked her as something more than a friend. The realization hit him like a brick when they were eating lunch together. Something about her perfect smile, her perfect hair, her beautiful laugh, there was something about her he loved. That something was everything.
So, on Valentine's Day, he'd made up his mind. After a lot of consideration, he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend.
He stopped at the store, and bought a box of her favorite expensive chocolates, and a big, bright bouquet of fresh red roses. He smoothed his hair, adjusted his glasses, and started on his way to her apartment.
As he walked through the park, he saw her standing by a tree, talking on her cellphone. Perfect. The place they'd met was an even better place to ask her than her apartment was.
With the chocolates in one hand and the flowers in the other, Togami ran up to her. But before he could get her to turn around, he heard what she was saying.
“Togami? What about him? Like him? No, C'mon. You know I only hang out with him because he's rich. I've never been living better, the fool treats me like a queen!”
Crash.
The bouquet and the box of chocolates hit the ground. The box came open and one of the chocolates hit her leg. She turned around and froze, before smiling sweetly.
“Togami! Happy Valentine's Da-”
She didn't get to finish her sentence because Togami had already left, crushing the roses under his feet as he turned and bolted. He didn't cry, that was childish. He merely cursed himself under his breath. He should've seen that coming. He should have realized it when she pointed out expensive clothing and jewelry she liked, how she'd always chosen her words in a way that somehow resulted in him paying for whatever they were buying. He'd been stupid. An utter fool.
Byakuya Togami didn't care for love. It was a trap. It was a curse.
He didn't make friends, he didn't want to be tricked again.
And what kind of reasoning was that? He was tricked once; people would laugh at him. He buried his insecurity underneath a mountain of thinly knit lies. Why don't you have friends? They're a waste of time. Why won't you let anyone get close to you? There's no point. He didn't want people to see how foolish he was.
But really? He wanted friends. He just didn't want to be hurt again.
What makes a cold heart? A little pinch of heartbreak.