also on the thought of Robert being pushed into hero work without really considering his own wants or desires, I feel like getting closer with Waterboy (romantically, platonically what have you) would sort of make it fully click that it wasn't ever really something he wanted
like obviously Robert wants to help people, or at vary least he's good at it and he can find it fulfilling, but to me the way he talks about being mechaman it sounds like he does it out of obligation rather than any actual wanting on his part to be in the mechaman suit, despite everything working out for him to do so I just don't see him ever really enjoying it
Waterboy on the other hand (assuming he is picked for Z-team) has to fight like tooth and nail to be a hero, even with his powers they don't provide an easy straightforward path to being a successful hero, it's a goal he chose and is choosing to work towards even when everyone around him is saying he can't, it's a career and role he's clearly passionate about attaining and enjoys doing it
I feel like Robert seeing that spark in Waterboy and looking inward and realizing he really does not have it in himself would make a decent dent in the idea that he has to go out and die in that suit