As soon as Cloud hears Emilio's insulting words, he glances at Solon and quickly leaves the well, heading toward his home without a word.
"Sorry, Emilio, Tifa, Tyler, Lester! I'll visit you another day. Cloud seems in a bad mood. Do you have to bully him? I think that's mean," Solon says, his voice tinged with concern.
"Bullying… are we doing that?" Tifa asks, her face scrunching up in confusion.
"No, we're not. Listen, Solon, Cloud acts like he's better than everyone else. He thinks we're beneath him. No matter what you say to him, he either ignores you or talks down to you. It's like talking to a black hole, sucking out your fun, hope and happiness! That's why we avoid him—we're really not bullying him," Emilio explains, his tone serious and honest.
I don't like it, but I can't fault his logic. His words aren't wrong. Why should they be forced to hang around someone like that? I don't think Cloud does it on purpose, but I can't deny the truth of what they're saying.
Tyler and Lester nod in agreement, while Tifa smiles, relieved by Emilio's explanation.
Solon can't help but glance at Tifa. Despite being only seven years old, she looks like a young noble lady, wearing a cute, sleeveless white dress.
She looks good in that dress. I guess as the only girl, the others treat her like a queen. She seems to enjoy the attention. But Mina is still way nicer and more beautiful. Who's interested in little brats like her? Besides, Mina saved me and Mom… it's only thanks to her that I'm living such a good life now. I like strong women like Mina. I don't like manipulative women who use their charms to get what they want! I don't know if Tifa is like that but I don't like this dynamic.
"I see—sorry for misunderstanding. I think you're right, but maybe we can all hang out together sometimes. I'd love to play with you, but I'm going after Cloud for now. I'm worried about him."
Being all alone can be scary…
"Wait, Solon… that bracelet, what is it?" Tifa asks, her eyes lighting up with curiosity as she points to the oversized Bronze Bangle on Solon's left arm.
"This? It's a Bronze Bangle! It's real armor! It protects me!" Solon says proudly, thrilled that Tifa is showing interest in his new equipment.
"Can I have it?" she asks, batting her eyelashes and trying to act cute.
"No way! It's my treasure! But if you bring me some bronze and other materials, I'll make one for you myself!" Solon quickly denies her request but offers a compromise.
"Solon, you're six. How can you make something like that? Silly boy!" Tifa says, laughing.
"In a few years, I'll surprise you all! I'm going to become the best Artificer in the world!"
"Is Uncle Mason really teaching you? I once asked him to teach me, but he said no!" Emilio interjects, sounding a little jealous.
"Yeah, he's teaching me! Anyway, I've got to go after Cloud. See you!" Solon says, jumping down from the well and running after Cloud who turns around, spots Solon, but quickly enters his house anyway, closing the door.
Oh, come on, he's not waiting for me? How cold! He just ran into his house.
As Solon approaches Cloud's home and knocks on the door, a blonde woman opens it. She looks similar to Cloud, with a stern but kind face. Her hair, tied into a ponytail, is the same shade of blonde as Cloud's. Solon guesses she's around 30.
Time to use the white lie Aunt Mina told me to use to make a good impression on women.
"Hello, are you Cloud's older sister? I'm Solon Ros—no, Solon Bluesteel. It's nice to meet you."
"Oh my, aren't you a total cutie! I'm Cloud's mother, Claudia Strife, you little charmer! You're Mason's grandson, right? I heard his family came back to live with him. You're just six years old but already this dangerous, I better be careful around a charmer like you. Do you want to come in and play with Cloud?"
"I wouldn't want to be a bother…" Solon starts, but Claudia immediately interrupts him.
"Nonsense! You're coming in—you're such a nice boy. You're not bothering anyone!"
She grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him into the house.
"Cloud! You have a visitor! Play with young Solon; he came all the way to see you!" Claudia calls out.
Cloud eventually appears, looking less than thrilled, and leads Solon to his room.
"Why did you come? You could've stayed with Tifa and her goons," he grumbles.
"I don't like Tifa and her 'goons'... I dislike goons!" Solon says, trying to sound casual.
What's a goon anyway? They are more like followers.
"Me too! I guess you can see through their act. Those three are just after Tifa… and Tifa enjoys the attention. I'm better than them. They'll regret not including me. I won't stoop to their level. One day, they'll all see!"
I feel like he's really angry. Is he hurt from being excluded?
"I see. What will they see one day?" Solon asks.
"I'll become a hero! Like those SOLDIERs… like Sephiroth! Sephiroth is so young and already a war hero! I'll make First Class too! Then they'll regret not including me."
He's so childish… does he really think it's that easy? Even my arrogant father only hoped I'd make it into Second Class. I admit I'm aiming for SOLDIER too, but… one step at a time. I'll work hard for it!
"You should start learning about Materia, weapons, and bracelets then! SOLDIERs depend on all of those things, according to my Grandpa," Solon suggests.
"I don't need all that stuff. I'll make it on my own," Cloud says, brushing off Solon's advice.
I don't think he'll make it into SOLDIER with that attitude. He seems fit physically, but his attitude isn't suitable. According to Father, who wanted to force me into SOLDIER, they need to be serious, competent, and able to follow orders without question. Would this arrogant, willful kid be able to do that?
"Anyway, I just wanted to see if you're alright. I'll see you around, Cloud, okay?"
"I guess. See you, Solon," Cloud says, trying to act cool as he leads Solon to the door.
"Goodbye, Sister Strife!" Solon waves at Claudia as he leaves.
"Oh my, leaving already? You're such a cute kid," Claudia giggles.
Time to go home. At least I made an effort for Grandpa. Friends are complicated! I want to read more books!
— [Scene Break] —
Nibelheim, Tifa's House, Tifa's Room – Year 1995, May 3rd
"Happy Birthday, Tifa! This is your present." Solon gives Tifa a small hug and hands her a silver pendant shaped like a half-moon.
"Thank you, Solon! This pendant looks so nice. Did you buy it for me? It looks expensive!"
"I made it myself. I collected some scrap and pulled out a few silver components, so it didn't cost me anything but a bit of work. I'm glad you like it," Solon says, his voice brimming with pride.
"That's kinda impressive. Looks like you're really getting somewhere," Emilio says, with Tyler and Lester nodding in agreement.
"Gold would've been cooler, though," Lester adds, while Tyler chimes in, "Yeah, or platinum! Silver's just not that good."
"I like it! Gold doesn't suit me. Thank you so much, Solon. You're really getting better, aren't you?" Tifa says, admiring the pendant with a smile.
"Oh wow, Tifa, that pendant… it looks so refined. Little Solon, you made this? You're just six years old—how can you create something like that?" Thea Lockhart, Tifa's mother, enters the room carrying a tray of cake slices. She looks a bit rougher than Tifa but shares her daughter's gorgeous features, though her eyes carry a tired expression.
"I'm turning seven tomorrow! But I'm not celebrating like Tifa because my mom needs silence. I hope you're not upset," Solon says, his face twisting into a complicated expression.
This is what Mina calls a white lie, isn't it? I just don't want any visitors… I need to work hard and don't want to waste my time. I feel bad for using Mom's condition as an excuse, though.
"Of course, we're not upset, little Solon. We understand your situation. You're a brave young boy for enduring this. Your mom must be so proud of you!" Thea says with a warm smile, clearly fond of Solon.
Tifa's father, Brian, enters the room carrying glasses of juice and adds, "And thank your Grandpa for repairing our stove the other day. He's such a skilled craftsman. He's saved our household thousands of Gil over the years and never asked for anything in return. It doesn't matter if it's Mako-related or just old tech, even metal tools—he can fix anything. A true genius!" Brian, a man in his 40s, wears clothes reminiscent of a chocobo rancher, his leather vest particularly standing out.
He looks kinda cool. Tifa's parents are such nice people. Her mom's also quite beautiful, like Cloud's mom. Solon glances at Tifa and her mother, wondering if Tifa will grow up to be as beautiful as Thea one day.
Brian looks around the room, his eyes landing on Solon, Emilio, Tyler, and Lester. "Good, I see you didn't invite that rude blonde boy. Keep your distance from him. He's bad news—I've got a feeling."
"Oh, come on, dear. Claudia's a nice woman. Her son can't be that bad. He looks so dreamy—I bet he'll be very handsome when he grows up," Thea says, coughing lightly and looking slightly embarrassed.
Is Tifa's mom sick?
"Mom, Dad, get out! You're in the way!" Tifa yells, clearly annoyed by her parents' intrusion.
Thea and Brian exchange a glance, shrug, and leave the room.
"Solon, I didn't remember that your birthday's tomorrow. I didn't get you anything. Do you want anything? You even gave me that cool bronze SOLDIER figure last month for my birthday," Emilio says, looking a little guilty.
"No… although! If you have time, help me go to the old Shinra mansion again. I need your help carrying some metal I found. There's a hidden stash! I can use it to train."
"Again? It's always crafting with you. Does your blood contain more iron than normal? Your surname really fits you! Don't you have anything else you're interested in? Besides Materia, I mean. You're always talking about that," Tifa says, sounding a little bored.
Isn't that enough? What else is there to talk about in Nibelheim? Mayor Zander's road design? Or his cats? I'm not interested!
"Grandpa's started teaching me how to fight. I've got my first wooden training sword, and I've been practicing for at least two hours every day! Grandpa says my form's good for my age," Solon says, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Solon, you're only six years old. What's your Grandpa thinking? I think Uncle Mason's lost it, teaching you these things. Kids like us should be playing, not training," Emilio says, shaking his head.
"Tomorrow I'll be seven!" Solon retorts with a grin.
What did Cloud say again? 'One day, they'll all see!' I think I agree with him on that part, at least. Hmm, speaking of the devil… what's that idiot doing out there?
Solon glances out Tifa's window and spots the spiky-haired blonde boy spying on them from behind a building.
"Anyway, Tifa, I hope you had a fun birthday. I need to leave—Grandpa said I've got some chores left. If you're free tomorrow, I'll see you at the well tower. Mina said she'll bake something for us."
"That sounds good. I love Aunt Mina's cooking," Tyler says, his mouth watering as he wipes away a bit of drool. Lester nods enthusiastically.
"See you tomorrow—and thank you for the pendant," Tifa says, happily wearing it around her neck.
As Solon leaves, he takes the long way around the neighboring house and sneaks up behind Cloud, tapping him on the shoulder.
"What are you doing, Cloud?"
Cloud jumps and spins around. "Solon!! You scared me… I'm just… taking a walk."
"You may act like you don't care, but you're upset about not being invited. Creeping around the building isn't helping. Why don't you try being friendlier? You always seem to pick fights with the others. Can't you tolerate them just for Tifa's sake?"
"It's their fault! They're always provoking me!" Cloud says, his face red with anger.
This is hopeless…