It wouldn't be fair, telling a kid his future will be nothing but brutal tragedy that he cannot even escape in death. As aggravating as Cloud knows it is to be aware someone else knows more about you than yourself, this case is...Well, pretty dire. He cannot blame the older Sephiroth for his hesitation, or his relief in knowing Cloud won't contribute to the reveals. He directly saw the madness learning of Jenova led to with the Sephiroth standing in front of him. It would only go badly with a kid. "Yeah. Shitty situation. No easy way to tell him that would go well."

It makes him wonder just how bad his own situation is. He knows his future doesn't end suddenly per Sephiroth's indications. But what else?

What of the past? What memories are missing? Why is it this harmful to him, so much so all three Firsts walk on eggshells?

No use in brooding now.

"...I wandered into the woods, by the way. Something happened there- and now I remember a little more. From the future. Of what happened to me back home. I-" the blond goes tense. "Lost control. Completely lost my shit at the reactor in Gongaga. Saw your face. Heard your voice. You told me to channel my 'righteous anger' seeing someone I cared about hurt, and then convinced me that same person was Jenova wearing her face."

He falls quiet for a few beats, clearly perturbed. "When I came to my senses, I was covered in blood. Dead bodies with wounds I'd never inflict- needlessly violent. Plus...I pushed Tifa into the reactor itself. I attacked her. I tried to kill her."

And in the aftermath, he remembers what he told Tifa.

I'm no hero. It is like there's different people inside me. I don't know where they end and I begin. I think I must be falling apart.