☆ ━━━ The plan that day had been simple: Tifa and Cloud would take the children on a picnic, something that, Cloud recalled with a morbid smirk, wouldn’t have been at all possible in the past. For one, Midgar was not the sort of place you traipsed through with your family easily and the other fact remained there wasn’t really a pretty spot for picnics... or anything outdoors. So few wandered outside of the fortress that was Midgar that things like picnics and adventuring began to become lost to its denizens comfortably sucking the planet dry.

But now that the Lifestream washed everything away, blossoms began to appear on the earth again--greenery was abundant just outside of Edge and even around it. Cloud had planned a short hike on the outskirts of Edge, just atop a hill he knew where different flowers grew. Tifa had made egg sandwiches only a few moments ago.

That had been the plan, as it were.

Only seconds ago Barret barged into the Seventh Heaven and declared he was visiting Marlene. Not only that, he was taking both Marlene and Denzel with him to visit Red XIII whom was in town, a rare venture for the children he explained and he also noted that Red barely ever came into Edge if he could help it, so if they wouldn’t mind...?

“I saw Red XIII two days ago,” Cloud said bluntly, waving off Barret’s invite to see their old friend. 

Cloud steadily avoided Tifa’s gaze then, because he hadn’t even mentioned such a visit or that he had known Red XIII was in town. He mentally kicked himself--was he really so distracted these days he could forget to tell Tifa a detail like that?

Barret then looked to Tifa for a response, but Cloud was already pushing into the back of the bar, heading to the kitchen tucked out of sight. His face was oddly pinched in the rare, subtle way that tipped off he was a little annoyed. Not only that, but he was likely going to run away again--he had that restless look all of a sudden. The bar was abruptly feeling stuffy again, his skin itching. 

He can’t help but pop his head over the counter eventually in defeat, though, eyes searching and then finding the taskmaster overseeing his progress. 

“Teef -” he starts, a little breathless, a little tired, “- you sure Barrett doesn’t know how t’fix this thing? A blender’s a little different than a motorcycle. Think I’m just makin’ things worse.”

Fwumps sideways into her shoulder - he’s tired. “Long day - got any coffee left?”

“     i     came     in     here     alone     :          that  doesn’t  scare  me    .     ”

he had met tifa before and thought of inviting the girls to watch stars with him. he hadn't come back to gongaga in a while, but the STARS had always been a worth a visit indeed. gongaga wasn't much of what it once had been and he couldn't BLAME anyone for leaving. he himself had left without even one warning. if his parents were ANGRY at him, then he could more than understand them for feeling this way.

Kasumi was walking around a familiar place, why did it seem familiar? She wasn’t sure. She continued to look around until she finally decided to ask someone. Kasumi noticed a girl with brunette hair and walked up to her. 

━━━━   She sure did pick the moment to express just what she’s been feeling. Honestly ever since his trip back to memory lane and her incredible patience helping him piece together the true part of his life to actually return to normal made it quite clear that the little crush he’s had on her back then had not disappeared. But to hear that she now felt the same way..it made the situation easier. Yes, there was a meteor hurling towards the planet to end their very existence but Tifa’s confession made him feel stronger.