( it's surprising, feeling ranger's hand on his head, patting atop fluffy, white locks that probably hasn't been properly brushed in days. more peculiar that komaeda looks up trying to see the other's hand before willingly leaning into his touch. he doesn't know what about the head patting that he likes, or maybe it's the words said with it that makes the gesture worth his while. despair is meeting someone at their lowest, if it wins, they're at a state of no return if they lost all hope, and as for ranger, the concept of hope is still lost upon them from what komaeda can tell.

that's why he won't let ranger know how to despair, not until there's something beneficial from it like his hope — his eyes close during the interaction, after a moment, he'll stand up correctly. )

Yeah, I'll always look out for you... You're my partner, and I want to see your hope! ( on an annoyingly lighter note, ) I'm the Grim Reaper after all, I've been waiting for you for such a long time!

( he teases as a joke, but it's true, as someone who decides how useful lives are and aren't, he wants to see what comes out of ranger — there's things he can do because he's here, and things that he can't, but komaeda's always been interested in the impossible. )

Hm... Even if it fails, I think what comes out of it is what matters... as long as bonds grow, that they can rely on each other, perhaps that sort of hope could do some good here.

( even if they strive to kill one another after it, but seeing them in the moment is what's important to him. he pauses now when they're close to the classroom where the robotics club is meant to have everything together, and without even any warning, he releases ranger's hand to throw his arms around their neck, and his cheek rests on their head. soft hair... he rubs like a dog, and this is easier for him because he's initiating it as the annoying peer, but he lingers before letting go. )

Thank you. ( for validating his insanity, rather. )