[her hand tightens comfortingly on Asuka's shoulder as she listens, hoping that somehow she can help. help Asuka. help herself. help them both. there were many people here, but only the two of them right now - three of them if Ayanami-san could ever show something she could connect to - could honestly get the impact of it this deep, she believed. she didn't know for certain that was the reality.]

You took out so many Angels, Asuka. You protected everyone from so much.. It isn't your fault!... And... it scares me, honestly; that you're blaming yourself for any of it.

[it comes out more and shakily towards the end, her hand on Asuka's shoulder trembling, and she feels like she's going to going to cry, but she said it. even if Asuka doesn't believe her, it feels honest to Hikari right now.]