[Ryou puts himself between them like a fluffy white wall. It helps to have someone to play the pacifier to a situation that could easily burn out of control. Both he and Atem can be infernos with their respective passion, and when combined haphazardly, both of them end up hurt.

So, even if Komaeda would never admit it out loud (at least at this point in time), having someone like Ryou who's best at being the one to simmer them down... It's a saving grace. One that gets Komaeda to shut up and pay attention to what Atem says next, rather than the hammering pace of his own heart and the frantic thoughts racing through his head.

This isn't easy, not for any of them, but they all have stakes in this. He and Atem have been tip-toeing around feelings for years that Ryou has been gracious enough to be open to making happen. The least Komaeda can do, for this tremendous opportunity, is to listen to what Atem has to say despite the accusations.]

Ryou-kun is right... We shouldn't fight when things are already so... [Komaeda lifts a clawed hand, gesticulating in the air for nothing in particular,] difficult. And I do want this, too, it's just... I'm sorry if I'm a little on edge right now.

...If it means anything, though, I like you better when you're clumsy.

[He says, almost stubbornly so, but maybe more so just in his own way of saying it's okay to be.]

So go ahead, I'm listening to you both properly.