[For a few seconds, at the side of Shinji's face, Kaworu's hand stills. Then he processes the statement, and his thumb starts his stroking again.]

I'm sad to hear it. [It's sincere, even if it sounds trite. Ellie had been a joy to exist with. She was wonderful, and she was good for Shinji. Kaworu's eyebrows are drawn in sympathetically.] I know she tried hard to survive. I'm sorry that she didn't.

[He switches thumbs once he goes quiet, moving his left thumb down the slope of Shinji's cheek instead of his right.]

But you are here, and this is now. And when 'next' happens instead of 'now,' you will be all right.