[FF7][SC] Star Flower

A drop of water hit the hair, and gradually seeped down, it was icy cold.

Tifa didn't move.She was lying on the roof, with her right leg slightly bent, her elbows resting on the ground, and the fixed straps went around her left hand and then back to her left shoulder, maintaining a perfect sniper posture.More dirty water dripped down his forehead, hanging on his bushy eyelashes for a moment and falling again.

Midgar is divided into two parts by the disk, the bright and hopeful part on the top, and the dark, dirty and lifeless part below.But the sewer is perfect for these rats. The dim light and noisy human voices all provide cover for their actions.

Tifa continued to watch from the sight of the scope, increasingly confused about the place.She thought this was hell, and only the demons in hell could do such cruel things; or at least they were oppressed and exploited poor people, and Avalanche was about to save them from the pain.But no.Here are just ordinary people, ordinary people like anywhere else in the world.Some people live a luxurious life with red lights and green wine, and some people work hard to make a living. They are so ordinary and boring, but so natural.

She tried not to be distracted by the lives of ordinary people, ordinary lives that ceased to exist after a while.Shiels and the others were installing explosives, and the explosion was part of a plan, she didn't quite understand, but she knew it was important.Now she should have no fluctuations in her heart, adjust her breathing, and be ready to erase anyone who interferes with the plan, no matter who it is.

The index finger resting on the trigger trembled.

"What's the matter?" Effie[1] keenly noticed Tifa's breathing stopped for a moment.She didn't wait for an answer, the inquiry was unnecessary, any detail could lead to catastrophe.The young leader of Avalanche immediately lay down next to Tifa and observed the predetermined location with a telescope.The location of the sniper point was well chosen, it was blocked by the flashing neon billboard, and it was just enough to see the situation on Shiels' side.

The girl in the pink dress slowly backed away, her face full of panic, as if she accidentally bumped into the passerby they were planning.Kano was the first to emerge from the shadow of the alley, strong enough to tear the girl to pieces even without a weapon.

"Kill her," Effie said casually.

Tifa didn't move.

In fact, after seeing the target clearly, Effie relieved her overwrought state.A small child, even a dog trained by the Turks, a well-trained avalanche crew is enough to handle it.So Effie had enough time to observe Tifa, instead of grabbing the gun from her hand, she wanted to know what was holding Tifa back.

"Effie..." Tifa fluttered her eyelashes uneasily, it was too difficult to disobey Effie's order, "She's still so young."

Unexpectedly, it was this kind of answer, and Effie was taken aback.Xue Beng has taken Tifa in for several years, and she was kept because of the engraved hatred in the girl's eyes. When she mentioned Shinra, she seemed to chew the word with her teeth, and the hatred made Effie's heart skip a beat.

She took a new look at Tifa, her still immature face, her shoulders that were extremely out of tune with the butt of the gun, and her hand that couldn't pull the trigger.That hand was too small, life was too heavy for it.

No.Effie immediately dismissed the idea.It shouldn't be.Hatred had kept Effie alive and had learned how to let more people die, and right now, Tifa deserved the same.Compassion is just another form of cowardice.Their enemies are too formidable, and only ruthlessness can defeat them.

"She's still young." Effie hugged Tifa's shoulders, held the girl's hand with her right hand wearing a fingerless leather glove, and pulled the trigger with her, "Is this why you sympathize with her?"

"I have no idea……"

"Yes, that's it. You are still young, and she reminds you of yourself." Lips pressed against your ears, hot and humid breath brushed through your black hair, "You think of your hometown and your family. You wish someone could be like you back then." Like you now, let your Nibelheim go. But no. Nibelheim is like a pebble that sinks to the bottom of a lake, disappears and the ripples die down, and no one pays any attention. Now you see what could have been Do you envy? Do you envy? Do you hate?" Effie asked Tifa and herself that her Cam Town, her beloved mother and sister would never come back.Maybe she had tortured herself countless times, questioning whether she was doing it for justice or revenge, but now she didn't care about the answer at all.Or, what is the difference between the two?

As the pressure on the trigger increases, so does the resistance.

Effie felt Tifa's fingers go cold.Tifa has already passed the rookie stage where her hands are numb due to pressure on a blood vessel in her elbow, she is just afraid.When human beings are afraid, blood will be concentrated in the legs in order to escape, so the temperature in other places will drop.Effie hugged Tifa, bit off the glove, and warmed her with her own body heat.

"Don't be ashamed, and don't be afraid, it's not your fault. It's Shinra who should pay for these mistakes, and we're trying to fix them." Feeling the trembling body under her, Effie frowned slightly, and then relaxed.It's going to be okay, she knows Tifa will end up making the same choices she did because they're so similar, "Even if the way is wrong, we're going to do the right thing."

"Effie." Tifa's teeth were chattering, and her eyes were closed tightly. Effie almost wanted to laugh at how she aimed with her eyes closed. "Must mistakes be corrected by mistakes?"

"..." She can always easily ask the key to the question, or in other words, can always ask Effie's heart, "I don't know." Effie pressed the trigger, and a gunshot fired, "Maybe there is a different path , but we cannot do it.”

Tifa still deviated from the muzzle of the gun at the last moment, and the bullet only pierced the girl's calf, but this was enough.The girl staggered away with her bleeding legs, and would be caught and killed by Kano immediately.

Effie let go of Tifa, and then patted her head reassuringly, "We are unfortunate enough, how can unfortunate people care about other people's happiness?"

The supervisor of the special forces is in a good mood recently.

Although his performance was not much different from his usual performance, the same gentleness and politeness, the same meticulousness and prudence, but there were indeed differences in some details.Even the snowflakes of resumes on the table—the list of candidates for a new batch of special forces—could not make him frown slightly, and he could even easily make a few jokes with his subordinates about it.Many wondered if he would fall in love with someone, a rare joy in a bustling but dull metropolis, at least for decent people.But only Lazard himself knew that, in fact, it was because of Sephiroth.

The general's recent mission report is very pleasing to the eye, literally.Lazard turned to the next page almost happily, and the battle damage column was blank, a satisfying blank.

No one sacrificed.

The law and order environment in Midgar has indeed gradually deteriorated over the past few years.There are too many people with malicious intentions, such as terrorists who believe in cults, war criminals after the first battle of Wutai, speculators bred in slums, and then there are security robots and experimental samples that waste precious special forces resources in vain.Shinra's departments are tearing each other down, while the special forces department is like a nanny after the aftermath, wiping their asses.Sometimes Lazard even forgets his original intention of coming to Shinra. He came here to change this status quo, but in the process of gaining power, he may also be changed and become unscrupulous.Lazard didn't think he was wrong, but Sephiroth's change made him relax a little, at least he wasn't so annoying.

"Good job." Lazard signed at the end without scrolling down.There is no need to doubt anything, Sephiroth will not fail, "If you don't mind, I have some doubts, it's just personal." He put down the pen, cracked his sore knuckles, "You generally don't accept The task is too simple for you, why are you willing to accept it this time?"

"Is there a problem?" Sephiroth asked without looking up from PHS.

Lazard wasn't offended, he was used to it.He even took a long time not to be afraid of this powerful and beautiful creature.Besides, Mr. Supervisor is not so formal, so there is no need for that. Actual cooperation is far more important than procedural obedience. This is the iron law of managing this group of thorns. "No problem, perfect in fact. Being able to eliminate all the explosives in the event that the Turks' intelligence was wrong, while estimating the escape route of the terrorists to evacuate the crowd, I can't think of other praises vocabulary. Sephiroth, did you accept it for this result?"

"No." The blunt answer, the owner of the voice was impatient, and he did not hesitate to show this, "Just by the way. Can I leave?"

"Have a date?" Lazard smiled, but the private life of the special forces is not under his jurisdiction, "Just ask. Today's mission is over. If there is no accident, there will be nothing to do in the next two days. You can arrange it freely .”

Sephiroth nodded, unwilling to stay for a second, the coat drew a deep black arc, and left with hurried steps.

It's rare.

Lazard stretched and sank into the soft leather office chair, briefly relaxing his stiff body.He sat for almost a whole day, and only when he was alone could he show a slightly tired posture.

This thing is very interesting.He diverted his attention from business, and Sephiroth actually got irritable because of a date.Maybe the general's recent gentle way of handling things has something to do with it. It's a good thing, and it's good to continue.But it might be a bit risky, Lazard reminded himself to report to Tuckers, and then he wouldn't have to add more work to himself.After all, he couldn't think of any situation that would pose a threat to Sephiroth.

He closed his eyes for a moment to rest, then opened them again before drowsiness seized them, and sat up straight again.

The documents under Sephiroth's report came from Genesis, Lazard frowned slightly, and pulled out the stack of thicker paper.He was just halfway there before Sephiroth came back, cleaning up a few ProudClods that had broken into 2th Street.Troublesome things always pile up.

Genesis pales in comparison to Sephiroth.Although it was equally quick and decisive—he decisively used the fire magic with the explosion effect underground, and almost collapsed the entire block while solving the monsters, not to mention the casualties of the explosion.He did not even do less damage than ProudClod.

Lazard stared at the elegant cursive letters on the report without reading a single word.

Genesis isn't doing very well.Since the end of the Wutai War, he has been in poor form.Even if he doesn't check, Lazard still remembers that his missions are mostly high-risk battles, which is too much even for a private first class. Even Sephiroth will do some guard work intermittently, and Angel often participates in Guidance from other Special Forces.Genesis is becoming withdrawn and irritable at the same time, and may even enjoy killing, which is not a good sign.

Classic PTSD, a condition that many soldiers experience.Lazard considered giving him a long vacation to adjust, but reality does not allow it, and he himself does not agree, so this matter can only be shelved temporarily.Fortunately, Genesis also knows how to restrain himself. From his psychological evaluation that can't see any clues, it can be found that he still maintains a considerable degree of sanity, which is enough for the time being.

Sighing deeply, Lazard only hoped that getting along with friends could improve Genesis's psychological problems. Under normal circumstances, companionship is always very effective, and Angel would be a good companion.

He found himself thinking more and more in Shinra's shoes.

Sephiroth came to the abandoned railway spur.

On one side of the railway track was a small shack, the foundation itself was below the level of the track, and the eaves could reach the waist of a special soldier.The roof is made of various materials, such as corrugated corrugated corrugated iron roofs, or crooked lead sheets with dead branches and leaves on them.Behind the shed were a few twisted acacia trees, their bark split and withered for a long time, but there were still a few brown pods hanging on them stubbornly and refusing to fall.On the other side of the railroad tracks is an abandoned factory building, with faded words such as "Do not play on the railroad tracks" painted on the high walls.This used to be the residence of railway workers and their families, and they all moved out with the decline of the fortifications.

He walked along the rails, and gravel piled up along the way, gradually burying the rails.Then at a certain point, there was suddenly no steel structure anymore, and only the sleepers were left to rot alone.It was probably stolen.But without hindering Sephiroth's progress, he has already seen the simple and simple station in the distance.

nobody.

Sephiroth stopped, opened the PHS and took a look, it was 17:37, it was past school time.Without thinking about it, he called up Angel's number and began to edit the email, which probably said that he had already picked up Claude, was taking him out for dinner, and would probably be home later in the evening.After a while, he didn't get a reply, maybe he was tripped by something, he closed the PHS and continued walking towards the station.

The meeting place with Claude is here. Theoretically, the boy should have arrived. After he finishes tracking the terrorists, Sephiroth will come to pick him up and return to the disk.Sephiroth didn't think Cloud would disobey his orders unless something happened.

After waiting for about 5 minutes, the special forces called impatiently, and a cold beep came from the PHS.Maybe he should consider implanting a transmitter on Claude, so that it won't be so troublesome to find someone at this time.

The ethereal electronic ringtone faintly fell into Sephiroth's ears.It's near here.Putting down the PHS, the sound became clearer, then Sephiroth locked on to the source of the sound, and his eyes fell on the grass not far away.

The PHS has stopped vibrating, switched to recording mode, and the small green light is flashing regularly.It fell from bloody hands, well hidden in the yellow dry grass.The girl in the pink dress was lying on the dry grass, with a large dark brown blood stain on her back, and her beautiful blond hair was also messed up; her shoes were missing, and the white sock on one calf was also soaked in brown.It looked like she was shot in the leg first and fell, and then the men who arrived condescendingly shot her a few more times, leaving her to die of asphyxiation.

The shadow passed over Sephiroth's face, the deep facial features became even more sinister, and his aura became terrifying.

He knelt down and quickly opened the zipper of the dress to remove it, revealing a bloody back with five bullet holes.Then he held the body in his arms and turned it over, and tore off the entire skirt. There were only three bullet holes in the front, and the bullet might have hit the ribs and stayed inside.During the period, the wig fell off, revealing the boy's beautiful but dirty face.

Sephiroth gently put down the tattered doll-like corpse, looked at the dry blood foam from his mouth and nose, looked at his dirty face, and felt angry in his chest.He thought of the last still spell that morning; when he held the real one, the spell was completely redundant, but he stayed alive.Those bugs have no right to exist. After getting their hands on his stuff, he should obviously—

Sephiroth calmed down and pulled out Zhengzong, slashed open the boy's chest without expression, and picked out two deformed lead bullets.After carefully checking that there were no other residues, he unscrewed the portable flagon and poured all the magic into Claude's open chest.

Fluorescent green liquid was flowing, slowly seeping into the dark viscera.Sephiroth has witnessed many times, sometimes because of him, sometimes because of Cloud's own death, the incomplete tissue regenerates and rebuilds at an alarming rate, the bones are stretched, the muscles are covered, and finally there will be no trace on the body.

Perhaps because there are no traces, he will never learn the lesson.

Coughing out the last blood clot remaining in the trachea, Claude slowly opened his eyes, breathing slowly, as if waking up from hibernation.Sephiroth did not relax, and stood aside with a frown. He knew that the recovery process was not as fast as it seemed.

Cloud blinked dully, once or twice, as if he was looking at Hammerhead's Sephiroth.But there was no figure reflected in those eyes, he just looked up blankly, maybe it was the air or an illusion, and he remained motionless.After a while, the sapphire blue eyes finally added some luster, "Safi...Ross...?" The voice was rare and soft.

Cognition is also normal.Sephiroth breathed a sigh of relief, then only anger remained.He asked coldly, "Why did it happen?"

"so……?"

"You were found and did not escape." There was danger lurking in the deep voice, the predator was biting the throat of the prey, aggressively, "My order does not include these, or even the simplest obedience to you Can't do it?"

Cloud closed his eyes, he was still in a state of confusion, unable to understand even the simplest sentences.And he didn't understand what happened, why he was here, he needed time.Fortunately, the other person left enough silence after those words to allow him to think quietly.

Claude opened his eyes again, "Your order is to follow terrorists and report their whereabouts, and I have not disobeyed." He found that his dress had been stripped off, and his upper body was naked.Usually it's nothing, but this is very perverted when wearing lace safety pants and white stockings.He looked for the skirt in embarrassment, and found that it was too rotten to look at, but it was better than nothing.

"I didn't know you had this hobby." Sephiroth, who was refuted, was even more unhappy, but his attention was diverted, and Claude was stretching his legs into the skirt, "Where did you get it?"

"Women and children are more reassuring." The blood-smeared fabric was stiff, and Claude struggled to close the zipper. When he was about to add something, the zipper got stuck.Damn cheap stuff, bought in an out-of-the-way store to hide from people.

"Then you were killed." Sephiroth curled his mouth ironically, squatted down to take over the work of zipping, and Zhengzong knocked on the ground to draw a few shallow marks.

"...PHS forgot to set the mute." Because no one called him, Claude forgot about it, "How is the evacuation of the residents?" The hand behind stopped, "And those who resist—"

"They're all dead." Sephiroth's tone suddenly became cold and hard. He stepped back halfway and stood up again, and when he saw Claude turning his head in surprise, the corners of his mouth curled up in satisfaction, "Because of your unauthorized actions, Tax's There is an error in the information, what do you think?"

"I sent an email—"

"Received." Contempt flashed in the light blue eyes, as if mocking why this person who knew him so well could be so naive, "But what reason should I do?" Seeing the boy trembling with anger but unable to speak, Sephiroth's anger subsided strangely. "If you can learn from it, I think they are worth dying. Now stand up and come back with me."

Claude bit his lip and said nothing, digging his fingers deeply into the gravel.He must be very sad.Sephiroth waited with great interest for an outbreak, which is not bad, whether it is admitting incompetence or resisting unfair treatment, he is looking forward to seeing more expressions of Claude.Nothing disappointed him.Claude stopped trembling and stood up unsteadily.

He resisted by obedience.

well.

Sephiroth smiled instead of anger, turned around and strode away.Claude followed step by step, the footsteps were light and heavy, leaving a series of bloody footprints.Sephiroth knew that the gunshot wound on his calf hadn't healed, and the smell of fresh blood had been wafting, because there wasn't enough Moko, but——

If you really can't stand it, you should ask him, right?

PHS vibrated twice.

Sephiroth slowed down and took a look. It was Angel's news.Genesis was already waiting impatiently for a long-lost gathering. Angel hoped that they would come back soon, and this time there were still newcomers to introduce.When he turned his head, Claude had already followed him and stayed quietly behind him, waiting for the next command at any time.

"Take off." Sephiroth said suddenly, taking it for granted, "Take off this ridiculous thing."

After a moment of silence, Claude began to remove his clothes expressionlessly, without asking why Sephiroth didn't stop him from putting them on in the first place.He slammed down the zipper that he had worked so hard to get up, and under the loose collar was the thin neck, then the collarbone, the chest, the navel, and then the skirt fell, and he waded out naked.

"There are others," Sephiroth said again.

The long-legged stockings were also taken off, and the part that stuck to the legs was torn off mercilessly.He hesitated when taking off the remaining safety pants, but seeing that Sephiroth didn't respond, he bent down and pulled them down silently.

Another obedience test, Sephiroth always tested Claude's bottom line over and over again, wondering to what extent he would resist and when he would choose to betray.The result always satisfies him.

Sometimes Sephiroth would also think about whether he was treating Claude too harshly. He treated Claude far more cruelly than his enemies, but Sephiroth couldn't help it.Unlike Angel and Genesis, Sephiroth knows that Claude depends on him and will never leave him. This dependence makes him feel at ease and relaxed.When Angel was a novice, sometimes he felt bad about killing someone, when Sephiroth couldn't tell him he didn't feel anything, he just groaned dryly; Genesis pursued powerful secrets, But Sephiroth couldn't explain it. His friend's hurt pride made him learn to avoid the topic of fighting, but it only made them more distant.

He hides his true self and shows the side that others will like, in front of the people he cares about.He doesn't know the situation of others, but he needs to pretend.He knew that the darkness that could not be approached by others and was carefully hidden was hated by people. If they behaved differently from other humans, they would be rejected. At least he didn't want to be rejected by Angel and the others.

But Claude is different, Sephiroth can have no scruples in front of him, there is nothing more reliable than a relationship that can be maintained by a shady secret.Cloud's presence made Sephiroth feel safe and comfortable, and he finally had something of his own outside of those relationships that he couldn't get in.

It's just that this possession is not complete.He knew there were still undiscovered secrets about Cloud, and he didn't want to put up with that.Now Sephiroth somewhat understands the thoughts of the noble ladies who embrace expensive cats. It is indeed an enjoyable process to domesticate[3] until they are fully owned.It's just that Claude is not a cute little thing like a cat. He should be a wolf cub who has not yet grown up, dormant and ready to bite back.The difference between Sephiroth and the ladies was that he wasn't about to pull out his tusks and smooth out his claws, he liked those little things.He would put a collar on Cloud and keep him chained to his feet.

Because he wants to.

Sephiroth took off his casual overcoat and threw it over, the overlong hem rustling against the stones.

Claude put it on without saying a word, buttoned it up, and covered the hood of the coat—youth also need to hide the silver hair that is different from ordinary people.Without explaining, the young man hugged the opponent by the waist, and then began to run at an alarming speed.There is a subtle tacit understanding between them. In many cases, even if Sephiroth doesn't say anything, Claude can see his intentions and even predict them in advance.Sephiroth is very sure that this is not simply a matter of observation but a tacit understanding, because no one has ever done it before.

There was a slight heat on his chest, and Claude buried his face in his chest, and further ahead was the residential area.

"Angel said, you want to enter the military academy." Sephiroth spoke after a moment of deliberation. The sight around him made him want to find something to distract him. He didn't need to care about it, but the instinct of the war machine made him unable to ignore them. Talking can alleviate this very well.

"Ah."

"You're only 12 years old."

It's an odd question to be asked by Sephiroth.Claude raised his head slightly and looked up through the gap in the hood, only seeing a perfect chin.Then he noticed that the nosebleed had rubbed against the young man's chest, but the black T-shirt couldn't be seen much.

"There is only one military academy suitable for your age, and it's full of rubbish, sent in because there is no one to discipline it." Sephiroth snorted, "The brainless little bastard, after enlisting in the army, became the main force of disciplinary expulsion, and there are also people on the battlefield. Countless cannon fodder. If you want to go to that kind of place, you might as well drop out of school and join the army directly at the age of 14."

"Angel was not allowed to drop out of school, he said I had to be at least 15 years old."

Sephiroth paused, he actually said that to Angel directly?No wonder my colleagues are always worried and sweet these days. "Conceivably. But why are you in such a hurry to get into the army?"

"I can't waste any more time." There is nothing to hide, "Study is unnecessary, I have no other options for the future, as long as I become stronger."

"So you can get rid of me?" Sephiroth guessed naturally, without getting angry, "It's very reasonable, but you shouldn't go to the military academy, but tell me directly." He often wondered if the boy had forgotten that his other identity was a general, Or—remember all too well? "I'm assuming you've thought it through. What are your plans after enlisting? Except special forces."

"...Why do you think I want to be a special soldier?" Sephiroth felt his body stiffen in his hands, as if he wanted to curl up into a ball.That would make it very difficult to hug, but fortunately it wasn't heavy, and he clamped it firmly.The lines of the back and thigh muscles became distinct, and he subconsciously squeezed to signal the other party to relax, otherwise he should roll down.

"I don't want to be a special soldier, never will." After a while, Claude shrank even tighter.

It’s not self-inflicted, Sephiroth’s original intention was that he would not be able to pass the physical examination, and he could help to suppress the physical examination of ordinary soldiers, but the data of special forces selection had to be verified by the Biological Research Department.But now it seems that there are other reasons? "Angel is very happy these days. He saw you touching the destruction sword secretly." The entry is correct. When Claude is upset, he always subconsciously tilts his head, even if no one is looking at him. It's a good habit. "He thought You want to be like him."

Claude opened his mouth, wanting to refute something, but he realized that Sephiroth might be right, he couldn't be a person like Angel.It takes too much sacrifice to be a hero, he can't do it, he's not that noble.In the end, he could only say bitterly: "Angel is not just a special soldier, he is a hero."

It seems that his child hero complex is still deeply rooted.

Sephiroth laughed softly, not continuing on this topic.He thought of a good idea. "It's okay to go to the military academy. I remember they had a chance to be promoted when they graduated." Although the closed training of the military academy will reduce the chance of contact, this is not a problem for the general, "I will tell Angel for you, But correspondingly, the intention to assign must be an assistant officer."

Claude understood what he meant.

And - he has no right to refuse.

After checking Sephiroth's credentials, the guards saluted the general.When the general put the person in his arms into the back seat of the car, he sharply noticed a small amount of blood dripping down the other's calf.Just as he was about to speak to remind him, he was held down by his colleagues, and finally chose to shut up under the sight of the warning.It wasn't until the black sports car drove away that he couldn't help asking: "That person was injured——"

"Yes, I was injured, but where do you think the injury is?" The colleague kept waving his hands to signal him to lower his voice, "It is impossible for the general not to find out, and it is impossible not to have the healing magic stone." Seeing the other party's gradually shocked eyes, The colleague added, "It was rumored a long time ago that he has some special hobbies. I have a friend who owns a restaurant..."

It seems that soon, the silver-haired general's romantic anecdote will be added.

The wound was finally healed, the body was washed, and some school uniforms kept by Sephiroth were put on.After drying his hair, Claude rolled on the floor a few times, so that the clothes were not so clean, but not too dirty.During this period, Sephiroth has been staring at it, saying that it is to check for omissions, but it is probably just for fun.

Sephiroth then picked him up and scanned his irises.

Angel also opened the door at the same time.

The pink apron covered with golden chocobos came into view. It was a gift from the supermarket, and it was ridiculously small to wear on the strong special forces.The enticing aroma of food filled the air.Because of the arrival of the guests, the living room fell into a brief silence, only the aria on the TV was still going on——

"What you still have seems to be far away from your eyes."

“What is dead comes alive again.”[4]

"Wow, your head looks like a chocobo! Can I touch it?" The black-haired teenager emerged from behind Angel, grinning, revealing a row of shining white teeth.

Claude's mind went blank.

No, it can't be like this, it's too scary.The healthy, living Zack was smiling at him, the image that once gave him courage, but now it was too scary.The smile faded, and he became a little confused. He kept smiling until he died.Claude froze in place, his adrenaline was pumping wildly, he had to run away, but his trembling legs didn't move.

The familiar boy raised his hand in confusion, trying to cover his embarrassment by scratching his head.

Claude took a half step back and bumped into Sephiroth who was blocking the door.Can't let him touch it.The last caress when leaving, doting, helpless, regretful... relieved, and then the outstretched hand can't keep the back of leaving.

"Did I scare you...Sorry sorry! Don't be angry! I won't make this joke again! That..." Zack put his hands together and closed one eye playfully, his eyes were still pure Sky blue, without any pollution of Mako, "I am Zack, Zack Fair, Gongaga..."

"No matter what you want to say, why not go in and continue?" Sephiroth, who was blocked by the three people, suggested.

"Your Excellency General!" As if he had only just realized—in fact, with Zacks' rough personality, he might have just discovered it, he let out a small exclamation, "Uh, I... am not..." Max was at a loss for words, and only Sephiroth could do this pioneering work.But anyway he stepped back awkwardly out of the way.Sephiroth closed the door, bypassed Claude and walked in first. Genesis finally looked away from the TV and nodded to him.

Angel patted Claude on the shoulder encouragingly, and was surprised to find that the boy was shaking violently, his eyes were wide open, staring at the dazed Zacks without blinking.

"Claude?" Angel asked worriedly, calling the boy's attention back, "Are you okay? I called you this afternoon, but you didn't answer. I thought you were in class so I sent an email. We didn't hide it You mean, Zack is my student, I think you can be very good friends..." His voice became softer and weaker, and finally disappeared.Angel was frightened because Claude's eyes were wet.Since Hunis passed away, Claude has never cried again. He has always been very sensible, worry-free, and patient, but now he is so sad that he is about to cry.God, I must have done something wrong. "It's okay... calm down... tell me what happened..."

All eyes from the living room are now focused.

He doesn't know how he's acting, he's trying to control, he can't act like he knows Zack, he can't stare at him anymore, even if he'd give everything to get one more look.

Angel's worried eyes forced him to calm down, and he remembered that Sephiroth was still there.

"I...I'm fine...very good..." Tears burst out of my eyes suddenly, "I'm just a little tired, you continue..." He shook off Angel's hand, and rushed into his room and locked the door in the blink of an eye.

Darkness is safe, no one will see his weakness.

The warm yellow light in the living room leaked in through the crack of the door, stinging