"I met most of them, as well. Aerith was...far kinder than I deserved. Tifa accepted my presence, and I can hardly blame her if she could do no more. Red XIII...we became quite close. He and I had more in common than I believe he ever realized, as victims of ShinRa." A beat. "Barret punched me, which was fair. Though he wasn't in the simulation long, so we never really had the chance to - converse. For me to try to talk to him at all. I don't know if he would have heard me out or not, but the chance never arose to begin with."

Is it simply natural for Sephiroth to share his interactions with Cloud's friends, or on some subconscious level, through their connections with Jenova, is Sephiroth responding to Cloud's unspoken question? Difficult to say.

"I don't think you need to worry about them. They're all strong and capable. I think you need them more than they need you." Belatedly, Sephiroth realizes how this sounds, and hastens to explain further. "That is to say - you're like me. You struggle to live only for yourself. You don't really know who you are or what you want, so you devote yourself to others...and if you can't do that, you drift aimlessly."

Sephiroth fears he may have soured...whatever this is, and drops his gaze. "I...didn't mean that in a bad way. I simply recognize it well."