[Then isn't he, in his dedication, worthy of both pity and fondness, should she choose to offer some facsimile of them (since the real things are surely beyond her)? Now, if only she could be convinced of that. She's failed before, and because of that, she'll always fear some future failure, some weakness that might still be in her, and her shame - that'll be with her, too. ... They really do have a lot in common.]
[She'll have to tell him, some day, how grateful she is to be allowed to be that for him and that he has been that for her. She'll have to thank him for the chance to be allowed to know him and to not be hidden from nor have to hide her own knowledge, and that he doesn't resent her for her intrusion. (Of course, he might not call it that - she knows that, too.)]
[He needn't give her an answer, really - he wouldn't have had to give her what he did, either, but it's appreciated, nonetheless.]
... I understand.
[And she does.]
But, Riku... [She doesn't scold, just makes the words something like an offer.] ... you can't let it hold you back. You're trying to learn so that you can protect them, aren't you? And... you know that they'd want to help you, any way that they could. ['You don't have anything to be ashamed of.'] So... even if you don't think you have the right to... [because goodness knows she's been familiar with that feeling, herself,] ... maybe you can still do it, for them.
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Now, if only she could be convinced of that. She's failed before, and because of that, she'll always fear some future failure, some weakness that might still be in her, and her shame - that'll be with her, too. ... They really do have a lot in common.][She'll have to tell him, some day, how grateful she is to be allowed to be that for him and that he has been that for her. She'll have to thank him for the chance to be allowed to know him and to not be hidden from nor have to hide her own knowledge, and that he doesn't resent her for her intrusion. (Of course, he might not call it that - she knows that, too.)]
[He needn't give her an answer, really - he wouldn't have had to give her what he did, either, but it's appreciated, nonetheless.]
... I understand.
[And she does.]
But, Riku... [She doesn't scold, just makes the words something like an offer.] ... you can't let it hold you back. You're trying to learn so that you can protect them, aren't you? And... you know that they'd want to help you, any way that they could. ['You don't have anything to be ashamed of.'] So... even if you don't think you have the right to... [because goodness knows she's been familiar with that feeling, herself,] ... maybe you can still do it, for them.