Wait. They didn't just existed near each other, they actually KNEW each other. And Kinosaki must have known about him all this time and just acted like he didn't? I'm a bit confused here.
I'm still sure the contract later with the Doll user might just involve Kinosaki helping Gero. It could even be the arrangement that began this whole thing and why Gero met Kinosaki... that is, their meeting wasn't coincidence. But still, there's a bunch of questions that come from this.
Oh, and the Doll user is trash. He deserves hell.