Cloud never looked at going to parties as a performance for the hosts- moreso social interactions (especially at parties) as a performance by the individual for the other people involved. It still makes perfect sense to him, though. Maybe there's some implications there in Sephiroth's specific wording that the blond will unpack later.

But what's important right now is...

"Tournaments, sometimes. Some over the table and others under the table hosted by restless SOLDIERs. Pretty popular, either way. I only really got a chance with a few. Too busy on active duty."

though, he sure did enter a few different types of tourney in his time out of SOLDIER that are far easier to recall. The one at Corneo Colosseum seems like an adrenaline-fueled fever dream in retrospect.

"Held my own in em. Good challenge."