["If she's here." Yeah, that all but confirms she's not, in Rise's eyes. ... It's okay, she's been separated from people she loves before. But she's not going to pretend the possibility of not seeing Nephenee again here doesn't hurt.]

Yeah...

[She smiles sadly, but tries to keep up at least some hope. She came here, so even if Nephenee or Cirno aren't here, they might still show up. She's been reunited with people she thought she'd never see again before.]

Even if she's not... I'm glad you're here, Sonico-san! You're so kind, and...

[Memories of that conversation she'd shared with the other Sonico, of the time they'd spent together, drive her to want to maintain that connection somehow. It's hard dancing around the "I've met an alternate universe version of you before" part, but that seems too much to say right away.]

I... guess I always thought you'd be a great big sister too...

[In the non-literal sense this time, of course. For now. But gosh, in the end, that sounded way more awkward than saying spending time with an alternate Sonico made her feel safe and cared for. But at least she didn't break Sonico's brain before she knows she's ready to hear about alternate versions of herself.]