Same. I really can't stand the amount of hate Shizuka gets here, but how conveniently everyone seems to forget that it was Kaoru who was the original 'big bad' (as bad as you can get in a series like this, anyway) just because they like how she interacts with Mask. Like...sure, you might think it's cute, but that doesn't erase her past treatment (and manipulation- remember how she stopped eating when Shizuka tried to ((rightfully)) cut her out of her life? TEXTBOOK manipulator stuff right there) of Shizuka. And it's ALWAYS bothered me how Kaoru got a thing for mask and then started acting like Shizuka was being some needy, clingy, jealous ex despite having spent the entirety of the manga prior actively trying to woo/tempt Shizuka away from Mio.
Shizuka is no saint, but let's not forget (any more than we apparently already have) that it's Kaoru who started all the toxicity.
...
I'm really glad someone pointed all this out. Yeah, I'm no fan of Shizuka either but I find it surprising that more people gave Kaoru the pass so easily that there are people who are actually anticipating a Kaoru x Mask hookup. People are really down bad for beautiful eccentric characters that needs just the right person to "fix" them that it's like people forgot just how shitty Kaoru was to Shizuka, even just recently.
And Kaoru's toxicity can't just be attributed to "ah youth". It was literally YEARS of manipulation on her part. It's actually even more messed up that she found a new target to obsess over while suddenly losing interest in Shizuka when she finally developed interest again.
Did she even properly apologize to Shizuka for everything(she did some messed up things during and after their relationship)? Cause all I remember was Kaoru gaslighting her into thinking Shizuka was the only terrible one. I don't mind if Kaoru eventually finds someone, but girl needs some serious psychological help first.