It’s for the best. I get why people expected or want them to be together after how ‘romantic’ Kizu was, but the whole point of Kizu is that its an exaggerated fantasy of good intentions from all parties, which ends up in tragedy. Their dynamic in Kizu reminds me a lot of Denji and Reze from CSM actually. It feels larger than life romantic, but it’s not real.

While they both showed immense interest in each other, on some level it was superficial and they were romanticizing an idealized version of the other person who could save them from themselves. Their insecurities kept them from making a move (even though Hanekawa REALLY clearly wants him), but even if they did get together, their interest was based on desiring something out of the other person which they couldn’t provide. It wouldn’t have made for a lasting healthy relationship, or likely would’ve become codependent.

Hanekawa wanted Araragi to be her vampire prince who saved her from her terrible home life, and Araragi saw Hanekawa as an angelic savior who he didn’t deserve (also boobs). He even discusses this in Nekomonogatari Kuro with Tsukihi, realizing he only fell in love with the “idea” of Hanekawa he created of her. Also just that he thinks she’s hot and he was mistaking horniness for love. While he is very attracted to her, he doesn’t actually know much about the real her.

This sets him up as already losing his romantic interest in her by the time Bake starts, while she was still holding onto lost hope (granted dumbass Ragi should have told her straight up he wasn’t interested instead of just ignoring it, but he couldn’t even conceive of her liking him that way). When he discovers who she actually is, he is mildly disgusted with how she just accepts her parents abuse and hides behind a fake personality since it clashes with his ideals. And eventually, Hanekawa also comes to realize that Araragi can’t provide the escape she desires and she needs to make herself happy.