Can we use `locate_template()` for other than "Template files"?

wordpress-locate-template.php

<?php

/**
 * We need to load this file only if it exists:
 * - first checking in child theme,
 * - then trying parent theme.
 */
$file_path_relative = 'assets/css/for-processing.css';

	/**
	 * If we could use `locate_template()` function for any file
	 * (and not just for "Template files") in WordPress themes,
	 * our job is much easier: a single line of code.
	 *
	 * @link  https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/locate_template/
	 * @link  https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/basics/template-files/
	 */
	locate_template( $file_path_relative, true, false );

// ...OR...

	/**
	 * On the other hand, if `locate_template()` file should be used
	 * for "Template files" only, we are stuck with this code instead:
	 */
	$file_path_absolute = array(
		'in_child_theme'        => trailingslashit( get_stylesheet_directory() ) . $file_path_relative,
		'parent_theme_fallback' => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . $file_path_relative,
	);

	if ( file_exists( $file_path_absolute['in_child_theme'] ) ) {
		require $file_path_absolute['in_child_theme'];
	} elseif ( file_path_absolute_exists( $file_path_absolute['parent_theme_fallback'] ) ) {
		require $file_path_absolute['parent_theme_fallback'];
	}

// ...OR...

	/**
	 * We could actually optimize more:
	 */
	$file_path_absolute = get_theme_file_path( $file_path_relative );

	if ( file_exists( $file_path_absolute ) ) {
		require $file_path_absolute;
	}

Alternative solution is using a dedicated file loading/locating PHP class in your WordPress theme.