Springtime Bloom!

by FlowersByAGhost

Summary:

Cloti High School AU based on the recent Ever Crisis Event.

Tifa and Cloud have been best friends since childhood. She is the class president, while he is a delinquent, gunning for brawler: First Class.

For the upcoming school Spring Festival, Tifa had something special planned, but things don’t go quite as expected.

Chapter 1

"Pick up, pick up, pick up!"

Tifa groaned as she stared at the bright display of her pink flip phone.

“Calling Cloud Strife,” it read in bold letters, the irritating beeping sound ringing in her ears at regular intervals. She glanced out her window toward the house across from hers. Thick blinds covered the window, blocking even the friendliest morning sunshine. Typical.

“I’m not gonna be late because of him!” she huffed, adjusting her uniform with hasty fingers before slipping into her shoes.

A rustling sound came from the other end of the line, then she heard a sleepy, muffled voice:

"Hey...? Tifa?"

She let out a heavy sigh. “Cloud! Don’t tell me you’re still sleeping!”

“… not anymore," he groaned, followed by a long yawn.

"Hurry up!" she scolded, swinging her backpack over her shoulder while holding the phone to her ear. "You're gonna be late again, and this time, I won’t wait for you!"

Cloud made a grumbly noise, the kind that reminded her of her cat Fluffy when she didn’t get the treats she wanted. Tifa had to fight back a laugh. She was mad at him, after all. This time, he wasn’t getting off the hook that easily! If he was late again, he was going to get into trouble. More trouble. He was already knee-deep in it, constantly getting into brawls with the other delinquents at school. He was on his way to getting suspended at this rate.

"I'll be there in five," he muttered.

From her window, she heard the faint creak of blinds opening. Instinctively, she turned her head and locked eyes with Cloud.

His face was all sleepy and grumpy, hair an absolute mess. She often teased him that it looked like a chocobo, the school’s mascot, but right now it reminded her more of a chocobo nest.

She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling. Instead, she shot him a stern look, narrowing her eyes as she mouthed a warning: “F-i-v-e.”

For a moment, they just stared at each other, nothing but the quiet rustle of the phone line and her heartbeat between them. Then, Cloud gave her a faint nod, ended the call by snapping his flip phone shut, and shuffled off to get ready.

Tifa sighed, slipping her phone into her jacket pocket before hurrying down the stairs.

At the kitchen table, her dad sat with his eyes locked on the morning newspaper, a cup of freshly brewed coffee in his hand, the steam rising.

"Morning, pumpkin," he mumbled absentmindedly, not even looking up.

"Morning, Dad," she replied, grabbing a piece of toast and taking a quick bite. No time for a proper breakfast, she’d already wasted too much of her morning trying to wake Cloud up.

With her mouth still full, Tifa opened the fridge and reached for the three bento boxes she had prepared the night before. One, she slipped into her dad’s work bag; the other two, she carefully packed into her backpack, accompanied by a strange, queasy feeling in her stomach.

The school’s spring festival was coming up soon, and she had been agonizing over whether to ask Cloud to go with her. Not like a date… just two childhood best friends spending time together… or maybe… it was like a date. If he was up for it.

Just the thought of asking him sent a shiver down her spine.

To make things easier, she had prepared a special lunch just for him, filled with homemade snacks and a cupcake she baked specifically for him. This was the best way she knew how to express her feelings—words had never been her strength. She preferred to show her affection through acts of service, doing small things for the people she cared about.

“I gotta go, Dad,” she mumbled, washing down her dry toast with a sip of cold milk straight from the carton. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before adding, “See you for dinner tonight.”

“Have fun at school, pumpkin.”

Finally, her dad lifted his eyes from the newspaper, staring her down with a knowing look as he added, “And stay away from trouble.”

Tifa sighed internally as she shut the door behind her.

Trouble. She knew exactly what he meant. Or more like who he meant. It was the same reason she couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering as she stepped onto the sidewalk, checking the time on her phone.

She counted down in her head. Five… four… three… two…

Right on cue, Cloud’s door slammed open, and he shot out like a bullet, nearly crashing into her. A gust of wind kicked up around them, sending her hair whipping across her face.

“Made it just in time,” he announced proudly, a complacent smile on his lips.

Tifa exhaled sharply, brushing her hair out of her face to take in the mess he was.

His shirt was untucked, the top buttons left undone, and, of course, he had that stupid bat in his hands. A textbook delinquent, almost comically so. At least, that’s what he wanted people to think.

“I was this close to leaving without you,” she huffed as they made their way to school, holding up two fingers with barely any space between them.

“But you didn’t,” Cloud said, completely unfazed.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Tomorrow’s another day; another chance.”

He smirked. “Sure. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Tifa shot him a glare before crossing her arms. “Seriously, does your alarm clock not work?”

“Alarm clock?” He tilted his head slightly, like the concept itself confused him. Then, with a lazy grin, he added, “Why would I need one when I’ve got you?”

Before she could react, he nudged her shoulder playfully.

It startled her. In that pleasant, yet embarrassing way.

She quickly looked away, tugging at the hem of her skirt to keep her hands busy. “I can’t wake you up every day,” she mumbled. “One of these days, I’m gonna be late myself.”

“Nothing wrong with that. It’s healthy to break the rules sometimes. Let loose, Lockhart.”

Tifa scoffed, dismissing his proposal. “If you want me to keep waking you up, you gotta do something for me in return.”

Cloud raised a brow. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

She smiled. “Like coming to my karate championship next Friday. The one I told you about? Remember?”

Cloud kicked a loose pebble down the sidewalk, hands stuffed in his pockets. “‘Course I remember.”

“So… you coming?”

He let out an exaggerated sigh, gaze shifting to the opposite side of the street, anywhere but at her. The low rumble of passing cars nearly drowned out his words.

“Guess if you really want me there… I could make time.” There was a hint of softness in his voice, something his don't-care attitude couldn’t quite mask. It was a rare glimpse of the boy she grew up with.

Tifa’s smile was instant. Too wide and obvious, but she couldn’t help it. “It’s gonna be great! I feel really prepared for this one.”

Cloud rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. “Oh, please.”

Her voice took on a teasing lilt. “Maybe you could even learn a thing or two. Y’know, so you don’t get your ass kicked at school all the time.”

His mouth dropped open. “Getting my ass kicked?” Cloud scoffed, sounding almost offended. “No way! I’m gonna be the number one brawler at this school, you’ll see!”

There was a rare spark of passion in his voice as he strode ahead, raising a fist in triumph like he was already claiming his victory.

Tifa lowered her gaze to the pavement. “I wish you wouldn’t.” She said it so softly that she knew he wouldn’t hear.

The school loomed on the horizon, and the morning air filled with the quiet chatter of students gathering around them.

“Cloud?” Tifa asked tentatively, wiping her sweaty palms against her skirt.

“Hmm? What is it?”

She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn’t dare meet them, not when they were that piercing shade of blue that made the sky look pale in comparison.

“There’s something I want to ask you. Meet me on the rooftop for lunch?” She tried to sound casual, but her voice wavered, forcing her to clear her throat mid-sentence.

Cloud slowed his pace. A quiet “Ehh…” escaped his lips before he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sure,” he muttered. “I’ll be there.”

Silence settled between them as they neared the school gates until a high-pitched voice shattered the peace.

“Cloud Strife, you’re going down!”

A backpack came flying out of nowhere, smacking Cloud straight in the head. “What the—?!” He stumbled forward.

Aerith Gainsborough, a rowdy second-year who loved picking fights, stood a few feet away with her hands on her hips. Ever since Cloud announced he was gunning for Brawler: First Class, Aerith had made it her mission to beat him and everyone in her way every chance she got.

Tifa giggled. “And that’s my cue to leave.” She waved goodbye, catching one last glimpse of Cloud rubbing the fresh red mark on his face. “See you in class.”

She hurried through the hallways. As class president, she had responsibilities to take care of before homeroom started, and she wasn’t about to slack off just because Cloud couldn’t wake up on time or had to get into brawls before school.

Sliding the classroom door open, she took a deep breath and straightened her uniform before stepping inside. A few students were already at their desks, chatting idly as the morning sun cast golden streaks across the chalkboard. Through the window, she could glance upon a sea of pink cherry blossom trees, signaling the arrival of spring.

She began writing down the day's announcements on the chalkboard in neat, clean handwriting.

• Spring Festival this weekend. Attendance mandatory!
• Karate Championship next Friday after school!
• Homeroom cleaning duty: Group 3

She underlined each point twice before putting the chalk down and brushing the dust from her fingers. With the first lesson about to start, she made her way to her seat, exchanging brief greetings with a few classmates along the way.

Tifa had always preferred sitting at the front of the class, where it was easier to follow the teacher’s instructions and harder to get distracted by the chatter of side conversations. But a while ago, she had decided to move to the back next to Cloud.

More often than not, he spent the mornings with his head resting on his desk, quietly dozing off, catching up on the sleep she had dragged him out of. She often wondered what he was doing at night.

Now, she made sure he was actually following the lessons. Sometimes, after class, she stayed behind to tutor him, sharing her tidy and clean notes with him, while his notebook was filled with scribbles and rushed, unorganized notes.

He was a strange case. During lessons, things seemed to fly right over his head, and yet, the moment she explained a concept to him in her own words, he picked it up instantly. He understood everything she taught him, just never from the teacher.

Was he really struggling, or was he just… playing dumb on purpose? Did he like it when she taught him things?

Tifa shook the thought away, neatly arranging her books and pencils on her desk, mentally preparing for the lesson ahead.

By the time the teacher entered the classroom, Cloud was still missing. So was Zack Fair, the current holder of the Brawler: First Class title, the one Cloud was aiming for.

Technically, Zack should have been a second-year by now, but he’d been held back. Tifa suspected they were both brawling over the title right now. Aerith Gainsborough in the middle of it.

After a greeting, the teacher started roll call, and with Cloud and Zack nowhere to be seen, nothing but silence followed when the teacher called their names.

Tifa sighed out loud. What was the point of waking him up if he was just going to be late anyway?

“Tifa?” The teacher’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Would you please collect the homework?”

“Of course.” She stood up and began making her rounds, weaving between desks as students handed over their assignments one by one.

Then the door slid open so fast she nearly flinched.

Two disheveled boys stood in the doorway, panting hard and covered in dirt.

They both pointed at each other. "It's his fault I'm late!" they said in unison.

A few students giggled. The teacher was not amused. With a sharp tone, they reprimanded them, while Tifa continued collecting papers.

Eventually, she reached Zack’s desk.

“Did you do the homework this time?” she asked, already suspecting the answer.

Zack groaned, rubbing his cheek, where a bat-shaped red mark stood out, a leftover from his brawl with Cloud. “Didn’t have time. Sorry.”

Tifa shook her head and moved on to Cloud’s desk.

“Your homework, please?”

Tifa held out her hand expectantly.

Cloud rummaged through his backpack, the sound of rustling papers and clinking pens grating against her nerves. Loose, unfiled papers. Her worst nightmare.

His brow furrowed in frustration as he sifted through the mess, then he let out a resigned sigh. “Guess I must’ve lost it.”

Tifa’s eye twitched. “This is not the time for jokes.”

She knew he had done it. Yesterday, she’d stayed behind after school to finish her homework together with him and ensure that this time he did it. Just for him to now lose it?

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Did you check everything?”

“I did.”

Before she could press him further, the teacher’s voice cut through the classroom.

“What’s the holdup over there?” The teacher’s gaze settled on Cloud. “Cloud, where is your homework?”

Cloud’s eyes flickered toward the window. “I… lost it.”

The teacher sighed, crossing their arms. “Lost it? That’s not an excuse. If you can’t turn in your work, that’s a zero.”

He didn’t react, shoulders loose, expression unreadable. But Tifa saw the slight crease between his brows, so faint no one else would notice. But she did.

She hesitated, fingers curling at her sides, before speaking up. “But he did do it.”

A few heads turned. Cloud’s did too, eyes widening just a fraction. He hadn’t expected that.

The teacher arched a brow. “Excuse me?”

Tifa cleared her throat, her voice steadier now. “I stayed behind after school and saw him do it.”

She kept it vague, avoiding any unnecessary details. Rumors had already swirled around them too many times before. She didn’t need people to know she stayed behind just for him.

The teacher studied her for a moment, then turned to Cloud. “Is that true?”

Cloud met Tifa’s gaze before shrugging. “So what? I still don’t have it now, so what does it matter?”

The teacher sighed again, shaking their head. “You’re lucky you have Tifa to vouch for you. You have until the end of the school day to find it and turn it in.”

Tifa exhaled, tension easing from her shoulders. That went better than expected. Maybe if they retraced his steps, they could find it together later.

Cloud still looked indifferent, slouching in his chair, gaze fixed outside. But as she turned to hand in the collected homework, she caught something just for a second.

The smallest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

A silent thank you to her.

 

The lesson began, and Tifa tried to focus, tapping her pencil against her notebook in an attempt to keep her mind on the subject matter.

It was kind of ironic. She had moved to the back of the class to keep Cloud from getting distracted, but now she was the one struggling.

Every now and then, her eyes flickered to him, stealing glances from the corner of her vision. The sunlight streaming through the window caught in his hair, tracing over the sharp lines of his face, making him look softer somehow.

And yet, there was nothing soft about the way her stomach fluttered.

She pressed her lips together, forcing her attention back to her notes. Just get through the lesson. Just make it to lunchtime. Then she’d give him the lunchbox she made just for him. The best way she knew how to say, “I like you.”

But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting—she imagined the moment in her head, rehearsed how she would say it, and imagined how he might react.

Then suddenly, her thoughts scattered like petals in the wind.

Cloud was looking right at her.

She hadn’t even realized she had been staring at him. But Cloud must have noticed, turning his head toward her in response. His gaze was steady and… unreadable, like his eyes were trying to tell her something she couldn’t quite grasp.

Tifa’s breath hitched. Normally, her head would turn away on reflex. But right now, it was as if that instinct had failed her. She just... couldn’t look away.

And neither did he.

A quiet tension settled between them, and for a brief moment, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away.

But as quickly as it started, a voice snapped them back to reality. “Attention, please!” the teacher pressed, a stern look in their eyes.

Instinctively, their heads turned to the front, and Tifa felt like she had been pulled out of a cozy daydream, one that left her pulse quickened and cheeks flushed.

 

When the bell rang, signaling the start of lunch break, Tifa felt a jolt of electricity rush through her veins. This was it. She knew what she had to do, and now that she had asked Cloud to meet her on the rooftop, there was no turning back.

Her legs were shaky, but somehow, she managed to rise from her seat. Her gaze flicked to Cloud. His expression was blank, but Tifa could recognize something in his eyes. Curiosity, mixed with a hint of confusion. She felt like no one in this world understood those eyes like she did. After all, she had gotten lost in those deep pools of blue so many times already.

He opened his mouth, likely to ask her something, but Tifa cut him off before he could speak. “Meet you upstairs,” she said, forcing her voice to sound steady even though her heart was hammering in her chest. She grabbed her backpack and rushed toward the door, not giving him the chance to respond or follow her.

She pictured them meeting on the rooftop, so she hadn’t prepared for what to say in case they walked up together. That’s why she’d run off so quickly. Now, as she ran up the stairs alone, she felt a bit embarrassed for bolting off like that. What was she even thinking?

At the rooftop, Tifa paused for a moment to breathe in. Her heart was still pounding wildly, but it had little to do with how fast she had run up the stairs. The view from up here was breathtaking. It felt like the very definition of spring had come to life, casting its charm over the world. The cherry blossoms swayed gently in the cool breeze, and her hair fluttered softly around her face. The sun, high in the sky, made everything sparkle, and the air was thick with the sweet scent of blossoming flowers.

She opened her backpack and pulled out the lunchboxes, the one she had made for herself, and the other one for Cloud. For a moment, she closed her eyes and gathered her courage. She could do this.

Then, the door to the rooftop creaked open, and Cloud stepped into view. One hand casually buried in his pocket, the wind tousling his hair. The sight of him made her heart skip a beat.

He strolled over to her, her nervousness contrasting with his cool. Each of his steps only deepened the feeling that this was the most important moment of her young life.

Her mouth suddenly felt dry. Like speaking was going to be an impossible task. Would it ruin the moment if she reached for the water bottle in her bag to take a quick sip? Would it be better to push through and confess quickly?

Before she could make up her mind, Cloud pulled a small box of strawberry milk out of his pocket. Wordlessly, he set it down beside her on the rooftop wall, his eyes avoiding her, fixed on the ocean of pink blossoms below them, but she caught a glimpse of the softness in his expression.

It eased her nerves, just a little. Behind that tough exterior, he cared for her—she could feel it, even when he didn't show it in obvious ways. It was why she liked him. He always seemed to know exactly what she needed, making her feel seen and cared for, even without saying a word.

Her hand wrapped around the carton of strawberry milk. It was a physical reminder of Cloud’s unspoken care, which gave her the needed strength to continue.

She cleared her throat, and Cloud’s attention shifted to her.

“Thanks for this,” she murmured, her voice quieter than she intended. “And for coming here.”

Cloud gave a small nod. “Tifa?” His tone was gentle, his brows slightly raised, and at the corners of his lips tugged an encouraging smile. Hearing her name in his voice sent a flutter through her chest.

She took a deep breath. All of the words she had prepared for him now felt out of reach. What did she wanna say again?

“Ehh… umm…” She glanced down at her feet, suddenly too aware of how intently he was watching her. “I made something for you. Something special. I really hope you’ll like it.”

She reached for the lunchbox with hesitant fingers, but before she could hand it to him, the rooftop door slammed wide open, shattering the quiet moment between them.

“There you are!” Two voices loudly rang out in unison.

Before Tifa could even process what was happening, Zack and Aerith came sprinting toward them, the rooftop door swinging shut behind them.

“I’ll get you back for earlier!” Zack shouted with a smile on his face, Aerith, behind him, had her usual chaotic sparkle in her eyes.

Cloud looked immediately stressed. “Ehh, now’s really not a good time.”

He stepped in front of Tifa, like he was instinctively shielding her from the storm that was coming toward them.

“No excuses,” Zack said, cracking his knuckles. “It’s time to settle this once and for all.”

Cloud let out a sharp exhale through his nose. “I said not now.”

Tifa, still gripping the lunchbox, blinked in confusion. “Wait, what’s…?”

But there was no time to react. Zack was already lunging forward, fist clenched, while Aerith charged in from the side. Cloud blocked Zack’s swing in an instant, but in the chaos, Aerith shoved into him, trying to throw him off balance.

Cloud stumbled backward, straight into Tifa.

Tifa let out a small yelp as she lost her grip on the lunchbox and it slipped from her fingers. The lid snapped open on impact, and everything she had carefully prepared inside scattered across the rooftop.

The others didn’t even seem to notice, too caught up in their brawl. Tifa barely had time to process what was happening, and then it turned even worse.

As fists and punches went flying, Cloud made another step backwards. Something squished beneath his foot. It was the cupcake that was supposed to tell him how she felt.

Only then did the chaos come to a stop. Cloud, Zack, and Aerith halted mid-movement as realization slowly dawned on them.

Cloud lifted his foot, staring at the ruined mess beneath him. His eyes widened slightly, guilt flashing across his face.

Tifa just stood there, staring at the remnants of the lunch she had poured her heart into. Her fingers curled into fists, her throat tightened, and a sharp sting crept behind her eyes.

For a moment, no one spoke. Just a gust of wind spread the grains of rice across the rooftop.

Cloud finally broke the silence. “Tifa, I…” His voice was unsteady.

She didn’t move. She could barely think.

“I am so sorry,” Aerith blurted out, her hands clasped together in guilt. “I didn’t see you there—I swear, I didn’t mean to—”

Tifa barely heard her. The lump in her throat was unbearable.

Before she could say a single word, the rooftop door swung open with a bang.

A deep voice boomed across the rooftop. “What the hell is going on up here?” It was Barret Wallace, their P.E. teacher.

He filled the doorway with his statue, his arms crossed and his eyes were glaring at them. He was known for his big heart just as much as he was for his angry outbursts. And right now it wasn’t hard to tell in which mood he was.

“Will these damn brawls ever stop?” he barked, stepping forward with heavy strides. “It’s always the usual suspects! I swear, if y’all put half this energy into playing ball, we’d be undefeated!”

His eyes landed on Tifa. “…You too?” Disappointment rang in his voice.

Tifa flinched. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“Well, damn,” Barret grumbled, shaking his head. “Detention. All of you. After school.”

Zack groaned. “Aw, come on…”

Barret cut him off with a glare. “You’re gonna help set up the Spring Festival decorations. Got that?”

Tifa swallowed hard and nodded, too stunned to argue.

Aerith, however, immediately stepped in. “But Tifa didn’t—”

“I don’t wanna hear it.”

“But—”

“Nothing but,” Barret snapped. “I saw the four of you here, so the four of you are staying.”

With that, he turned on his heel and marched off, leaving them standing there in heavy silence.

Aerith steps forward first. “Tifa, I’m–”

But Tifa shook her head. “It’s fine.” Her voice was quiet. It wasn’t fine; this was supposed to be her big moment, but she feared if she said another word, she might actually start crying.

Cloud exhaled, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his face. “Tifa…” His voice was softer now. He reached out slightly, as if to place a hand on her shoulder, but hesitated, pulling back before he reached her.

Zack didn’t say anything, but the worry and guilt were heavy in his eyes.

But none of it made Tifa feel better. She didn’t want their pity. All she could think about is how she wanted to get away from everything and everybody.

Without another word, she turned around and ran off. She bolted for the staircase, her heartbeat hammering loudly in her chest.

Rapid footsteps followed her. So fast, she couldn’t outrun them.

Before she knew it, Cloud had caught up with her.

The two of them came to a halt in the dimly lit stairwell, the only light coming from a small window above, casting a narrow beam of light between them.

She felt his fingers wrap around her wrist, not forceful, just enough to stop her.

“Tifa, wait,” he breathed.

She didn’t turn around. She felt too embarrassed, frustrated and humiliated.

“Cloud, I don’t—” Her voice wavered despite her best effort. “There’s nothing to say.”

So he didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled her into his arms. Not roughly, but with a gentle urgency. With one smooth motion, he turned her around so she landed against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and it felt like he was building a fortress around her to keep her safe and protected.

Tifa couldn’t remember the last time they’d been this close. Had they ever hugged before? Maybe as little kids, but did that even count? It wasn’t the same. This was different. It was intense.

And despite the anger still lingering in her chest, anger at him for getting caught up in that stupid fight, when he knew she had something important to tell him, she didn’t pull away.

So she just let it happen, and the seconds stretched between them. Her cheek rested against his uniform as she listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart. A single tear escaped her eyes, soaking into his fabric.

She didn’t want to break apart yet, but the creak of the rooftop door pulled her back into reality. A flood of sunlight disturbed their quiet as Aerith and Zack made their way downstairs.

That was her cue to leave. Without a word, she slipped from Cloud’s embrace and continued running down the stairs.

For the rest of the school day, she didn’t say another word to him. She didn’t even look at him.

Until, for the first time in her life, she found herself in detention.

Notes:

Thanks for reading the first part of this short story! I hope I can post the rest soon!:)

This Ever Crisis event really motivated the whole fandom to make content, like fanarts and fics! I've seen so many great things! I really hope it was more than just an April Fool's joke.

Cloud, Aerith and Zack really have to make it up to Tifa and don't worry they will! Next part will focus on the detention of these 4 and the last part will cover the events of the Spring Festival!

Chapter 2

Detention.

Tifa never thought she’d end up in detention. Not ever.

Didn’t she always behave and do exactly what she was supposed to? Didn’t she abide by every rule? Got good grades? Helped her teachers and classmates whenever she could? Stayed out of trouble?

That was who she was. Responsible and reliable.

And yet, here she was—stuffing her books into her bag at the end of class, mentally preparing for her walk of shame to detention.

As if today hadn’t been bad enough.

The one day she tried to be brave and show someone important how she felt. A day she was hoping to remember forever. But now? She’d remember it for a very different reason.

She zipped up her pencil case, slid it into her bag alongside her textbook and perfectly organized folder with papers tucked in pristine plastic sleeves like always.

But as she closed it, something caught her eye.

A loose sheet. Not hers. The handwriting was too messy. But still very familiar.

She glanced sideways.

Cloud sat by the window, chin propped on one hand, staring absently at the sky. The sunlight caught in his hair and cast shadows over his brow. He looked like he was somewhere completely else in his head.

Guilt crept up in her.

It was his homework. She must’ve grabbed it by accident when they were finishing up their assignments together yesterday. She must have filed it away with her own papers without noticing. No wonder he couldn’t find it this morning.

But it wasn’t too late yet. If she gave it to him now, Cloud might still be able to get credit.

Tifa clutched the paper in both hands, her stomach twisting.

Ever since that hug earlier—the one that had lingered longer than it probably should’ve—she could barely look at him without her cheeks warming. And there was still the embarrassment of her failed attempt to ask him to the festival and show him how she felt, hanging over her.

But she wanted to do the right thing. So she stood up, took a breath, and turned toward Cloud’s desk, only to be cut off by a voice that made her flinch.

“Tifaaaa!”

It was her classmate Johnny, as loud and dramatic as ever. Enough that half the classroom turned to look.

Tifa plastered on a polite smile. Johnny was harmless, maybe a bit much though. Sweet in his intentions, but his crush on her was painfully obvious and something she had been trying to gently shut down for a while now.

Turning people down wasn’t her specialty. She hated hurting anyone’s feelings.

“Hey, Johnny,” she said, with a small smile that she hoped looked more friendly than strained.

“You look amazing today!” he announced, beaming. “Has anyone ever told you you’re like, the reincarnation of Persephone, goddess of spring?”

Tifa blinked. “Uh… no. But thanks?”

“And speaking of spring,” he said, with a waggle of his eyebrows, “how about going with me to the Spring Festival?”

She’d seen it coming. And she still wasn’t ready. She opened her mouth, trying to think of a gentle letdown but before she could say a word, a sharp scraping sound interrupted them.

Cloud stood suddenly, chair screeching behind him. He didn’t say a thing, just grabbed his bat and bag, his jaw tight, and stormed out the door like he couldn’t get away fast enough.

Tifa blinked, startled. What on earth…?

She turned back to Johnny, shaking off the weird tension. “Sorry, Johnny. I’ve already got plans.”

Technically, it wasn’t a lie. If Cloud didn’t agree to go with her, she planned to simply go on her own.

Johnny clutched his chest like she just shot him. “Too late! It’s always too late! A guy like me never wins!”

“But I’ll see you there, okay?” she offered, with a kind smile. “Enjoy it.”

“You’re right, Tifa! I will see you there!” he said, perking up immediately. “From afar… tragically… but still!”

With a dramatic flourish, he walked off, leaving Tifa both amused and exasperated.

By now, the classroom was nearly empty. Cloud was gone. And the teacher was just about done packing up at the desk.

Tifa quickly walked over and held out the homework sheet.

“Here’s Cloud’s assignment from yesterday,” she said. “It ended up in my folder by mistake. Thank you for still giving him the chance to turn it in.”

The teacher took it with a nod, and Tifa let out a quiet breath.

She left the classroom with her bag slung over one shoulder. The halls were quiet now, with most of the students gone. Detention was being held in a special classrooms, if she remembered right. Maybe she should have asked Cloud or Zack, someone who frequently had detention.

But she found the room easily. The voices gave it away. She could hear Zack and Aerith bickering loudly from a mile away.

She pushed the door open, warm late-afternoon light spilling in through the windows.

The room fell quiet as she stepped inside. Zack and Aerith paused mid-sentence, both looking toward the door as Tifa appeared.

“Oh, hey Tifa!” Aerith called, rushing over with a sheepish smile. Zack followed at a slower pace, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Sorry about earlier,” Aerith said, her voice laced with guilt. “We got a little too caught up.”

“Yeah,” Zack added with a wince. “Didn’t mean to drag you into detention with us.”

Tifa let out a breath and smiled, trying to wave off their concern. “It’s fine. It’s just detention.”

She tried to believe her own words. That it wasn’t a big deal. That it didn’t sting a little, having her perfect record smudged because of someone else’s mess. But her smile faltered at the edges.

“You’re really not mad?” Aerith asked, hopeful and Tifa shook her head in response.

Then Aerith’s voice dropped to a playful whisper. “By the way… did we interrupt something earlier? It kinda looked like you were about to conf—”

“No, no, no!” Tifa blurted, waving her hands quickly before Aerith could finish. “It wasn’t like that at all. You totally misread the situation!”

Her cheeks burned red, betraying her denial.

Aerith giggled and gave Zack a look that said told you so. “Guess we know now how we can make it up to her.”

“There’s no need!” Tifa insisted, forcing a bright, awkward grin. “See? Not mad. Totally fine.” She even pointed at her fake smile for emphasis.

Zack and Aerith just chuckled as she turned away, finally letting her eyes land on him.

There he was.

Cloud sat alone near the window, arms crossed, scowling faintly at the sky outside. Whether he hadn’t heard anything going on behind him, or just didn’t care, she couldn’t tell.

Tifa lingered for a moment, that heavy feeling tightening in her chest. So much left unsaid. She didn’t even know where they stood anymore.

But she needed to clear the air and apologize for her mistake. Quietly, she crossed the room and slid into the seat beside him.

“Hey,” she said gently.

He didn’t look at her, but his posture shifted, just slightly, and he gave a small nod.

“I, um…” she fidgeted with her sleeves. “I found your homework. It was in my bag. I guess I grabbed it by accident yesterday when we were studying.”

Still no response.

“I gave it to the teacher just now,” she continued, voice soft. “So, you’re not in trouble for it anymore. I’m really sorry you got blamed because of me.”

There was a beat of silence. Then Cloud finally spoke. “…Thanks.” It wasn’t cold. Just… restrained. Like he was trying not to show what he really felt.

Tifa looked down at her hands, twisting them in her lap. “Are you mad?”

Cloud’s response came a little too quickly. “I’m not.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He looked tense. Like he didn’t know how to sit next to her anymore.

She hadn’t said much to him since that hug, she barely even looked at him. Not because she was mad, but because she hadn’t known how to act afterward. Everything had felt too intense.

Plus, there was the lingering embarrassment over her failed attempt to confess to him.

Maybe he was upset that she had given him the cold shoulder ever since?

Had she pushed him away too hard?

“I’m sorry for earlier too,” she said, barely above a whisper. “If I acted weird. I wasn’t trying to… push you away.”

This time, he did look at her.

Just for a second, but it was enough for her to see something flicker in his expression. Not anger. Not even hurt. Just uncertainty.

“…You didn’t,” he said finally.

That was all. But his voice had softened.

Tifa nodded and let it be. Maybe that was all he could say for now.

The door creaked open with a loud groan, and all four of them straightened up.

Mr. Wallace stomped in like a storm, clipboard in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other. His eyes swept the room with their usual intensity, pausing just long enough to make everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.

“Well, well. There you are.”

He dropped the clipboard onto the desk with a thud, flipping through a few papers before looking up, brows pulled together.

“Alright, listen up. The school’s spring festival is this weekend, and you’re helping with setup.”

He tapped the clipboard. “We’re splitting you up. Two inside, two outside. I don’t care who does what, just that it gets done. Here’s the checklist.”

He handed it off, and Aerith immediately leaned in, her eyes flitting to Cloud and Tifa with a knowing glint.

“I’ll take the inside with Zack,” she said sweetly, just a little too quickly. “Guess that leaves the outside for Cloud and Tifa?”

She nudged Zack with her elbow. Zack blinked, caught on a half-second delay, then straightened up and nodded. “Yep! Sounds great.”

Barret narrowed his eyes at them for a moment, but let it go with a shrug. “Fine by me. Cloud, Tifa, you’re on outdoor duty. Tables need to be set up, lights strung,... You know the drill.”

Tifa nodded. “Got it.”

She snuck a glance at Cloud. He didn’t say anything, just gave the faintest nod, his expression unreadable.

Barret jerked his chin toward the hallway. “Supplies are in the storage room. Get movin.”

Aerith shot Tifa a not-so-subtle thumbs-up as she turned toward the door, accompanied by an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle. Tifa barely managed to keep her face straight.

She stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt as her heart gave an anxious flutter. She was alone with Cloud again. And there was still that lingering tension between them, thick enough to trip over.

Wordlessly, she and Cloud grabbed the checklist and supplies from the storage room and stepped outside.

The courtyard was quiet, wrapped in the warm glow of late-afternoon sun.

The first few minutes passed in awkward silence. They worked side by side, but their words were few and far between, just enough to get things done.

“Can you hold this?”

“Yeah.”

“Higher… there. Thanks.”

It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable, but it also wasn’t like usual.

But as they fell into the rhythm of the work, Tifa felt lighter, like the weight was slowly falling off her. They shared a frustrated sigh when a lantern refused to stay up. Then a shy half-smile when they both reached for the same roll of tape, fingers brushing for a fleeting second. And a tiny laugh when a gust of wind knocked over the stack of festival signs they’d just arranged.

And bit by bit, the silence faded.

Tifa cracked a joke about the work they were doing and Cloud muttered something dry in return, which made her laugh.

They set up the archery targets in a patch of grass just off the courtyard. To keep things safe for students, the setup included lightweight bows and foam-tipped arrows, making the whole thing look more like a cartoonish version of the real sport.

Tifa took a step back, brushing her hands on her skirt. “Alright, that should be the last one.”

Cloud gave a small nod, shading his eyes with one hand as he looked over their handiwork. “Not bad.”

He spotted a foam-tipped arrow resting in the grass, bent to pick it up, and grabbed one of the lightweight bows. “Let’s see if these things even work.”

She nodded. “Might as well give it a try.”

He notched the arrow and pulled the string back with ease. After a deep breath, the shot flew cleanly and thudded into the outer ring of the nearest target.

Tifa raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Nice shot!”

Cloud smirked slightly and handed her the bow. “Your turn.”

Tifa took it, studying the weapon in her hands with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. “Just so you know… I’ve never done this before.”

She squared herself in front of the target, narrowing her eyes as she tried to recall what he’d done, feet apart, shoulders straight. She notched the arrow carefully, drawing the string back with effort.

From the corner of her eye, she could see him watching, his expression amused. “I can tell.”

She turned her head slightly, mock-offended. “Gee, thanks.”

Then she focused back on the target, took a deep breath, and let the arrow fly.

It wobbled through the air and landed nowhere near the target, flopping into the grass before it. She blinked. “…Okay, wow. That was worse than I thought.”

Cloud raised an eyebrow. “You just need a bit of practice.”

She turned to him with a huff. “Got any tips or are you just gonna stand there and make fun of me?”

He stepped closer, reaching for another arrow. “Here,” he said, voice low, “Let me show you.”

Before she could respond, he was behind her. Close. His hands brushed over her arms as he gently adjusted her elbows. One hand moved to her shoulder, the other nudging her fingers into place on the bowstring.

Tifa swallowed hard.

She could feel the warmth of him at her back, the way his breath ghosted near her ear as he spoke. “You’re holding too much tension. Relax your shoulders. Let the motion come from your back, not just your arms.”

“Right,” she said, but the word barely came out. It was hard to focus with him this close, with his touch so calm and certain.

He guided her slowly, his hands firm but careful. Her heart thudded against her ribcage, and she was pretty sure he could feel it. She bit her lip, feeling a bit of nervousness and excitement.

“Now pull back,” he said softly.

She did as he said, drawing the string back. He didn’t move away.

“Good. Now breathe in… and let go on the exhale.”

She released the arrow. It flew straighter this time, hitting the edge of the target.

Tifa exhaled, surprised. “Hey, that wasn’t bad!”

Cloud stepped back slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching up. He looked at her, not just amused, but maybe a little impressed. The sudden absence of his closeness left her blinking.

“You’ve got decent aim and strength,” he said. “Just needed the right form.”

She turned to look at him, a smile tugging at her lips despite the heat still in her cheeks. “Or maybe I just needed a good teacher.”

He shrugged, but there was a faint flush rising to his own face now, and he looked away.

Tifa tilted her head, curiosity sparking. “Wait… how do you even know how to do this stuff?”

He gave a quiet huff of a sheepish laugh. “Honestly… comic books. Used to read them a lot as a kid and would practice what I learned sometimes.”

Tifa stared at him, then grinned. “That’s actually kind of adorable.”

Cloud groaned softly. “Don’t say that.”

She nudged him with her elbow, teasing. “Of course, you only read them as a kid. Not anymore now, right?”

He gave her a sidelong look, mouth twitching like he was fighting a smile. “…Sure.”

Tifa laughed. “Uh huh. Totally convincing.”

They finished arranging the archery stand and headed back to where they left the checklist and the rest of the decorations. Things felt like they were slowly turning back to normal again, and Tifa started enjoying her time with Cloud as they shared banter and laughed like they usually did.

She settled down on a pair of stairs as she studied the checklist for what they had to do next and what they needed for it. Cloud sat beside her, leaning against the cool stone of the school building, his gaze drifting toward the sky.

Tifa focused on the list, barely noticing how Cloud stood up with a quick motion and plucked a flower from a patch near the edge of the school building.

Her first instinct was to protest. Those flowers were part of the school’s property. Also, picking them meant they’d wilt within a day. It was wasteful. It was against the rules. And it was…

“Hold still,” Cloud said as he turned to her.

Her words caught in her throat as he reached up and gently tucked the flower behind her ear.

She blinked, stunned into silence.

“Beautiful,” he said casually, like it was nothing. “Matches the redness on your cheeks.”

Tifa’s hand flew to her face as if she could hide the color blooming there. “That’s just… It’s really warm today. Obviously, I’m a little flushed.”

“Yea… obviously,” Cloud echoed with a faint smirk, already turning back to the next task like he hadn’t just made her whole system short-circuit.

She needed a moment to gather her thoughts before she joined to help him. The next thing on their list was setting up fairy lights for the outside area, but the cords had somehow gotten completely tangled up inside the box.

Cloud was already working on them as Tifa joined in, kneeling on the ground beside him, their knees almost touching.

“Guess we’re untangling these,” she muttered, feeling a little flustered by his closeness.

They got to work, each pulling gently at the tangled strands. The task wasn’t hard, but it was tedious, and for a while, neither of them spoke as they worked through the knots.

Then, after a moment, Cloud cleared his throat.

“Hey,” he said, his voice quieter than before.

Tifa looked up, her fingers pausing. “Hmm?”

He hesitated, pulling at a particularly stubborn knot. “Can I… say something?”

She turned toward him, brows knitting slightly. “Of course.”

Cloud let out a small breath, and she could see him rubbing the back of his neck in that familiar, almost apologetic way. “I just… I’m sorry about earlier. For getting caught up in that fight with Zack and Aerith. I really wanted to hear what you had to say.”

Tifa blinked, taken off guard by the sudden vulnerability in his words. Her voice softened as she met his gaze. “Oh, It’s okay, really…”

“No, it’s not,” he said, gently but firmly. “You were trying to tell me something important. I should’ve paid more attention to you.”

Her heart tightened, warmth rising in her chest. She looked down, fingers toying with the lights absently. “It was important,” she admitted quietly. “I appreciate your apology.”

Cloud’s eyes softened, and a small, crooked smile appeared on his lips. “I’d still like to hear it. So… whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”

That made her chest feel full in the best way. Tifa smiled back at him, a little shy. “You’re being awfully sweet today,” she teased, nudging his shoulder lightly. “Don’t let the others see you like this. You’ll never make brawler: first class this way.”

Cloud gave her a deadpan look, though there was the slightest twitch of a smile on his lips. “Oh no,” he muttered, “Guess we’ll have to keep it a secret then.”

Tifa grinned at him, warmth still blooming in her chest. The moment felt light, even a little silly in the best way. For the first time that day, she wasn’t second-guessing every word or wondering where they stood.

Cloud wasn’t one to apologize easily, so this gesture meant a lot to her. He could be quiet, closed off, and frustratingly hard to read sometimes, but when he did open up, it always felt honest, like he was choosing to let her in.

If things continued to go well maybe she’d take another shot at asking him to the festival. Maybe this time, things would go well. Being with him felt so right, and she wanted more of it. Just her and him.

Her thoughts started to drift back into daydream territory, but then…

“Hey,” he said, suddenly.

She glanced at him, confused by the low, almost tense tone in his voice. He wasn’t even looking at her, his head was turned away.

“Hmm?” She asked, with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

“Can you, uh…” He cleared his throat and gestured vaguely in her direction. “Fix your skirt, please.”

She blinked, looked down, and realized that the hem had ridden up a bit while they’d been kneeling on the ground. It wasn’t anything scandalous, but enough to show more of her thighs than she usually would.

“Oh!” she squeaked, yanking the fabric down as fast as she could. Her cheeks lit up instantly. “Sorry! I didn’t even notice. I was so caught up in my thoughts.”

“It’s fine,” Cloud mumbled, now intently focused on the string lights like his life depended on it. “It’s just… hard to focus, y’know?”

Tifa gawked at him. “What does that mean?”

He gave her a sideways glance, a smirk tugging at his lips. “We’re not kids anymore.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

It was the way he said it. And the meaning that lingered behind his words. Like he wasn’t just seeing the girl he used to know from his childhood anymore, but quietly acknowledging how she was changing and growing up, and maybe… that he was starting to see her differently now.

She quickly turned her face away, hoping he hadn’t noticed how red she was getting.

“…Shut up and untangle the next section,” she mumbled.

But Cloud just chuckled, low, amused, and stupidly attractive, and now she was the one who struggled to focus.

Still, they got through the tasks one by one, and soon there was only one final thing left to do. They had to set up some benches and tables where students could sit and have a little picnic outside.

As much as Tifa enjoyed her time with Cloud, and as relieved as she was to be nearly done, unease was starting to build in her chest. The sun had dipped lower in the sky, painting everything in warm orange light, and with each passing minute, that soft golden glow made her more and more anxious.

She sat back down on the stairs, stomach twisting as she pulled out her phone. A heavy sigh escaped her as she checked the time.

Cloud glanced over, pausing near the storage shed. “Something wrong?”

She hesitated, then admitted, “I should’ve been home by now. I usually make dinner after school for my dad. He’ll be home soon, and if I’m not there… he’ll worry.”

“Oh.” Cloud nodded like he understood immediately. “You nervous to tell him you got detention?”

Tifa gave a sheepish nod. “Yeah. I don’t even know how to explain it. I mean… detention?” She said it like it was a disease. “He’s going to be so disappointed. I’ve never gotten into trouble like this before.”

Cloud walked over, settling beside her on the steps.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said simply, his voice calm and certain. “You got blamed for something that wasn’t your fault. If anything, the fact that you’re still here, helping out without complaining, says so much about you.”

Tifa let out a soft laugh, though it wavered. “I don’t know if he’ll see it that way.”

Cloud tilted his head slightly. “Text him. Just tell him the truth. It’ll be okay.”

She looked up at him, unsure. “You really think so?”

“I do. You’re the most responsible person I know. Your dad knows that too. He’ll get it.”

The words surprised her. So simple, but they comforted her.

“You think I’m responsible?” she teased softly, the tension in her face easing into a smile.

Cloud shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You are. Always have been. Taking care of your dad, staying on top of school, being nice to people who don’t even deserve it most of the time…” He hesitated for just a second, eyes flicking down, before adding in a quieter voice, “I’ve always admired that about you.”

Tifa blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice.

“…Okay,” she said at last, soft but sure. “I’ll text him.”

Cloud gave a little nod and stood up again, heading back toward the shed.

With her newfound courage, Tifa took a breath and opened her messaging app. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment, heart still fluttering from everything Cloud had just said. Then she began typing.

 

Hey Dad.
I got detention today... it’s a long story, but I promise I’ll explain everything when I get home. I’ll be a little late, please don’t worry! Just give me a chance to tell you what really happened, okay?

 

She stared at the message for a few seconds, thumb hesitating over the send button, before finally pressing it with a quiet whoosh.

By the time she rejoined Cloud, he had already started dragging the benches from the storage room onto the grass. Tifa rolled up her sleeves and helped him position them in neat rows beneath the strings of fairy lights they had put up earlier. The work was repetitive but easy, and there was something satisfying about seeing it all come together.

As they placed the final bench, Tifa straightened and stretched her arms over her head, letting out a long breath. “Okay,” she said, smiling at the view. “I think that’s everything.”

Cloud gave a small nod, brushing his hands off on his pants. “Looks good.”

“And finally, we’re done.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. “I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick. Then we can head home.”

She entered the building, wandering through the eerily quiet hallways. Along the walls, she noticed the decoration that Zack and Aerith must have been putting up. They looked colorful and beautiful.

She wondered if they had already gone home and she just missed them, since the halls felt unusually still. Those two were always so loud, bickering about something. But when she rounded a corner, she saw them and immediately froze. Zack was holding Aerith up in his arms, their faces mere inches apart, just staring at each other like they were the only two people in the world. It felt like she had walked in on something she wasn’t supposed to see.

“Oh! Sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she blurted out, her voice louder than intended.

Both of them jumped, and Zack quickly let Aerith down as they turned to face her.

“Tifa! You didn’t interrupt anything,” Aerith said quickly, her cheeks flushed red as she awkwardly gestured.

Zack muttered something under his breath that sounded like, “She definitely did.”

Tifa smiled politely and took a step forward, intending to walk past them, but Aerith’s eyes narrowed slightly as she stepped closer.

“Wait a second…” she said, her gaze dropping to the flower tucked behind Tifa’s ear. “Now what do we have here?”

Tifa froze, her hand instinctively rising to touch the flower. “Oh, this? I forgot it was still there.”

Aerith’s smile grew, knowingly. “You didn’t put it there yourself, did you? Did someone give it to you?” She said "someone" like she already knew exactly who. “Maybe someone special?”

Tifa hesitated for just a moment too long. Her instincts screamed at her to deny Aerith’s implication or pretend like she didn’t get what Aerith was hinting at.

Zack, leaning against the wall, raised an eyebrow. “Oh-o? Who could it be?”

Tifa shifted uncomfortably, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks. “It’s… it’s nothing, really. Cloud put it there earlier. Just as a joke, I think.”

Aerith giggled softly, like what Tifa had said was just a little too funny. She took a small step closer, her voice lowering. “It’s definitely not just a joke, Tifa. Don’t you know the meaning of this flower?”

Tifa felt her stomach tighten, but she tried to keep the conversation light. “No matter what the flower means, Cloud doesn’t know anything about that stuff.”

Aerith tilted her head, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Maybe. But that doesn’t change what it means when a guy gives it to a girl.”

Tifa blinked, her confusion turning into a quiet rush of panic. “Well… what does it mean?”

Aerith smiled softly, her voice almost a whisper now. “That flower is often given by lovers as a symbol of love. It means something like, ‘You’re my only one.’”

She let the words hang in the air for a moment before adding teasingly, “Does that sound like something Cloud was trying to convey?”

Tifa’s face instantly flushed crimson. She stammered, “I—I don’t think so. Cloud definitely doesn’t know anything about that. It’s really just a coincidence.”

Aerith let out a small laugh. “There are no coincidences, Tifa.”

Tifa’s heart raced, and she felt herself falling into that quiet spiral. “Well, Cloud isn’t like that. He doesn’t do things as symbols to convey how he feels.”

Her voice dropped to a near whisper as the realization slowly crept in. This was exactly what she’d been trying to do with the failed lunch invitation. Could it be that he also…? Were they just two peas in a pod?

Zack, who had been watching the exchange with mild interest, finally spoke up, perhaps sensing Tifa’s growing discomfort. “I don’t know much about flowers either. Let’s just agree it was a harmless gesture, alright?”

He gave a soft, reassuring smile to Tifa. “This girl’s gonna explode otherwise,” he added with a chuckle, and Aerith joined in.

Tifa shot Zack a look that said thanks for nothing.

She quickly excused herself, feeling flustered beyond belief. She said her goodbyes and walked away, her fingers tracing the flower in her hair. It suddenly felt so much more important, like it had taken on a whole new meaning.

Inside the bathroom, she looked into the mirror. The flower behind her ear really did seem to complement the flush on her cheeks, just like Cloud had pointed out. She took a deep breath, though her stomach twisted with a jumble of emotions.

Overall, it had been a great day, even though she hadn’t been able to ask Cloud out, tell him how she felt, or have him taste the food she’d made for him. Actually, she hadn’t accomplished any of the things she’d hoped to do today. And got detention on top of that. And yet, despite all that, there was a warmth spreading through her chest.

She washed her hands carefully, then reapplied a light layer of tinted lip balm.

The day wasn’t over yet. Maybe it wasn’t too late to accomplish at least one of her goals. If she could just ask him to the festival, then she’d have something to show for today. She could always tell him how she felt another time.

If he agreed to go with her, that would be a good sign. If not… well, she’d already have her answer.

But there was still the concern that he misunderstood her invitation. She didn’t want to go with him as friends. She wanted it to be something more. And that was the complicated part.

Tifa glanced into the mirror one last time, taking a look at the flower in her hair. Aerith’s words lingered in her mind: You’re my only one. The gentle reminder filled her chest with hope. Maybe this flower wasn’t just a simple gesture after all.

She returned to Cloud, finding him slouched on one of the benches they’d just set up. Before him were two drink cartons—one strawberry milk and one apple juice.

“Let’s take a little break before we head home,” he suggested.

Tifa settled down beside him, relieved by the suggestion. Her knees ached from all the kneeling and crouching, and her arms felt like jelly.

“Here,” Cloud said, sliding the strawberry milk toward her.

She smiled, grateful for the gesture. “Strawberry milk again?”

He shrugged and opened his own apple juice. “Since you couldn’t drink yours earlier. You left it on the rooftop. Plus, I figured it’s your favorite.”

Tifa punched a hole into the box with the straw, raising an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What makes you think that?”

Cloud took a sip of his juice, eyes flicking away as he spoke. “Guess you don’t remember. It’s one of my earliest memories. Back when you started kindergarten, and your mom dropped you off, you wouldn’t stop crying. I wanted to cheer you up, so I gave you my strawberry milk. It always calmed you down after that, so I made sure my mom always packed one for me…” He trailed off, a quiet chuckle escaping at the memory.

Tifa’s heart squeezed. She couldn’t remember that herself; most memories involving her mom were blurry. But now, it made sense why strawberry milk always brought her comfort.

She took a sip, trying to keep her expression neutral. It tasted exactly how it always did—sweet, a little artificial, and strangely comforting.

She set the box back on the table, allowing herself to savor the moment. The peaceful silence between them felt unexpectedly perfect.

A beat passed before Cloud glanced at her drink. “Can I try some? Haven’t had it in years.”

She nodded without thinking. “Yeah, sure.”

Her hand moved to pull the straw out, ready to offer him the other end, but Cloud was faster. He grabbed the box and moved it up to his lips. As he did, Tifa noticed the faint pink stain left behind from her lip tint—and then, without hesitation, he drank straight from her straw.

Tifa froze.

He didn’t seem fazed. Didn’t even hesitate for a moment. Like it meant nothing that his lips had touched the exact spot hers had just been a moment ago. How was he that comfortable with her?

“It’s good,” he said, completely unbothered, as he set the box back on the table, like he hadn’t just thrown her completely off guard.

Tifa blinked, trying to recover, but her face was already burning. Her pulse quickened as she instinctively glanced at his mouth, her eyes tracing the curve of his lips, still slightly parted from the sip. They looked softer than she’d noticed before, the faint shimmer of her lip tint lingered where the straw had just touched them. It was like a quiet connection hanging between them.

And then, to her surprise, his eyes dropped to her lips, too.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Her heart pounded in her chest. It felt as if the space between them had suddenly shrunk, and the air grew thick with anticipation. She was suddenly acutely aware of how close they were sitting. It would take so little to lean in and—

She cleared her throat, turning away quickly, trying to push the heat out of her cheeks. “It’s… getting late,” she mumbled, more to herself than to him.

“Yeah,” Cloud murmured in agreement, though his voice didn’t quite match the words.

They finished their drinks in silence, save for the sound of their hearts, beating a little faster than they were supposed to.

Once their drinks were empty, they grabbed their things, showed Mr. Wallace their work, got the okay to head out, and made their way home.

They walked side by side beneath the fading light, the sky painted in streaks of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Tifa’s fingers curled around the strap of her bag, knuckles white. They would reach their houses soon, and she still hadn’t brought up the festival again, still hadn’t made any plans to go with him. The weight of it hung on her chest, too delicate to speak aloud. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d already missed her chance.

She kept feeling his eyes on her, but she pretended not to notice. Once, a quiet “Ehh…” escaped him, like he was getting ready to say something but changed his mind. She snuck a glance at him. Cloud looked relaxed, hands in his pockets, his gaze set on the road ahead. He seemed calm enough, maybe a little tired from all the work, but there was a certain tightness to the way his lips pressed together.

Maybe it was all in her head, but it felt like something unspoken lingered between them. Something neither of them seemed willing to address.

Did he want to go with her to the Festival? Would he ask her?

Or did he not want to go with her? After all, if he did, he would’ve asked by now… right?

Then again, she hadn’t said anything either. She hadn’t made any moves to ask him. So maybe it wasn’t that simple. Why did everything feel so complicated when it came to Cloud?

Eventually, Cloud cleared his throat, loud enough to cut through her thoughts. Up ahead, the silhouettes of their houses came into view.

“I hope you have a good time at the festival,” he said suddenly, eyes still fixed ahead.

Tifa blinked, surprised by the words. That’s it? That was all he was going to say?

She exhaled. “Thanks.” Her voice was a little quieter than she meant. It wasn’t what she wanted to hear from him, and now she struggled to hide her disappointment.

There was a beat of silence. She wasn’t sure if the pause was awkward or just thoughtful.

“Might have to beat Johnny up though,” Cloud muttered, almost too low for her to hear.

Tifa stopped in her tracks. “What?”

Cloud stopped, too, glancing at her with an almost imperceptible shrug. “Nothing. Just a bad joke. Forget it.”

Tifa narrowed her eyes, skeptical. “What did you mean by that?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze darting away. “Forget it. He just… annoyed me earlier. When he…” He trailed off, as if he hadn’t meant to go this far.

Tifa studied him. She wasn’t going to let it go this easily. “When he what?”

Cloud sighed heavily, then muttered under his breath, “When he asked you. To the festival.”

Her heart stuttered, something deep and unfamiliar twisting in her chest. “Oh.”

He shrugged again, his tone casual, but there was an edge to it that she couldn’t ignore. “I just... didn’t like it.”

“Oh,” she said again, this time more slowly. She wasn’t sure how to process it. He was just being protective. That had to be it. He was her close friend, after all. It made sense for him to look out for her.

“Johnny’s not a bad guy,” she said gently, wanting to ease the tension.

Cloud let out another sigh, this one tinged with frustration. There was a twitch in his brow. “Guess so.”

Tifa smiled a little. “So I really hope he finds someone who wants to go with him. He deserves it.”

Cloud shot her a confused look. “Aren’t you going with him?”

Tifa blinked, remembering how Cloud had walked away before she turned Johnny down. “No, I said no,” she replied. Unable to help herself, hoping he caught what she was throwing, she added, “I don’t have any plans yet.”

Cloud went quiet for a moment. His eyes flicked to the ground, then back to her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He was silent for a beat longer, his lips pressed in thought. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice quieter this time. “Good. I’ll pick you up.”

Tifa’s brow arched in surprise, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Oh? Just like that? You’re not even going to ask me if I wanna go with you?”

Cloud smirked, turning his head slightly to meet her eyes. “Wouldn’t want you to embarrass yourself by showing up all alone. I’m doing you a favor.”

Tifa huffed a laugh, her cheeks warming at the teasing. “Oh, is that really all it is?”

Cloud’s grin widened, mischief in his eyes. “Yeah, what else would there be? That you’re secretly dying to go with me?”

She laughed, trying to keep it cool. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Probably,” he agreed, smug. “But I’m not wrong, am I?”

They started walking again, the weight between them finally lifting, replaced by the ease of shared jokes and lighthearted banter.

“I think you’re mistaking me for you,” Tifa teased. “After all, who called me beautiful today?”

Cloud shrugged, nonchalant. “Hey, way to beat a man down for simply telling the truth.”

Tifa laughed, and their teasing carried them the rest of the way.

But as they reached their neighboring houses, and the moment of goodbye loomed, the mood shifted. Their pace slowed, neither quite ready to part.

The street lights flickered on, casting a warm amber glow over the quiet street, and the cool evening breeze tugged gently at Tifa’s hair.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Cloud was deep in thought.

Neither of them spoke. They just stood there, suspended in that soft, uncertain space between words.

Cloud shifted slightly, then cleared his throat. “Seriously though,” he said, voice a little quieter now, “I’m looking forward to going with you. The festival, I mean.”

Tifa’s heart fluttered. She turned toward him, surprised by the honesty in his voice. “Me too.”

His hands were buried deep in his pockets. “It’s gonna be good.”

She nodded. “I think so.”

“Right.”

Silence settled again, comfortable but charged. Tifa’s mind scrambled for something to say to keep him standing there just a little longer.

Cloud nudged a small pebble with his boot, watching it skitter across the pavement.

“I was wondering, though…” she started.

“Hm?” He glanced at her, curious.

Tifa shook her head, a nervous laugh slipping out. “No, it’s nothing. Forget it.”

Cloud looked at her with a quiet intensity. “Tell me,” he said gently.

“It’s dumb, really.”

“Tifa,” he breathed, soft and steady. “Please?”

The way he said her name melted her hesitation. She gathered her courage, eyes dropping to the ground.

“I was just wondering if…” Her fingers tightened around the hem of her skirt. “If this is a friendship thing. Or a date thing.”

She bit her lip the second the words left her mouth, bracing herself for what was to come.

There was a pause. Then, quietly, Cloud stepped closer, so close that she could feel the warmth of him in the cool night air.

His fingers brushed over hers, still clutching her skirt, a silent, calming touch.

“A date thing,” he said softly. “If that’s what you want.”

She looked up, heart pounding—and found his face closer than she’d expected. His eyes steady on hers.

“I do,” she whispered.

For a beat, they just stood like that, the whole world narrowed to the space between them.

“Tifa!”

The front door swung open, and her father’s voice cut through the quiet moment like a knife. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes fixed disapprovingly on Cloud.

They both instinctively took a step back.

“Tifa, there you are! We need to talk.”

Tifa blinked, the warmth of the moment replaced by the sudden chill of reality. She turned to Cloud, reluctant. “I gotta go…”

He nodded, his voice soft again. “Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

She gave a small smile, still lingering on the edges of what they’d shared. “Yeah. Goodnight.”

With one last glance, she turned and headed toward her house. Her father remained in the doorway, eyes fixed on Cloud with a deep frown etched across his face.

“I told you to stay out of trouble,” he muttered, not looking away.

Tifa sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. “I know.”

But as she stepped past him into the house, heart still fluttering from Cloud’s closeness, one thought lingered in her mind.

Then why did getting into trouble feel so exciting?

 

 

 

Extra: What happened with Zack and Aerith as Tifa walked in

 

Decorations were hung all along the walls—paper lanterns, colorful streamers, and bundles of ribbon swaying gently in the late afternoon breeze. Most of the setup was done, just a few finishing touches left.

Naturally, she and Zack had turned it into a competition, both far too eager to bring the other down.

Which, in fairness, had made them quite efficient.

Only one last wall remained, and Aerith, who was quick with her hands and feet, had taken a slight lead. She zipped along the wall at full speed, ignoring the dull ache in her knuckles.

“My box is almost empty,” she announced, voice triumphant.

“Hey, I’m not far behind,” Zack replied “Better not start slacking off.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You’re going down.”

But as the last stretch of wall came into view, Aerith ran into a problem.

The decorations needed to go up higher now, and despite her best efforts, tiptoeing, stretching, even hopping a little, she just couldn’t reach.

Zack chuckled from a few feet away, easily hooking a lantern onto a high spot she’d been eyeing. “What’s that? Can’t reach?”

Aerith puffed out her cheeks in frustration. “That’s not fair.”

He snatched the ribbon right out of her hand with a grin, holding it just above her head. “Want this? Come and get it.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You are insufferable.”

Aerith scanned the room and spotted the ladder she’d used earlier to hang something up. Without a word, she rushed over and dragged it back.

“Oh no,” Zack muttered, watching her ascend. “She’s getting serious.”

“Damn right I am,” she said, climbing confidently. “I’m not losing against you.”

He was still holding the ribbon up as she reached the top step, standing tall to snatch it from his hand.

Just as her fingers brushed against it, her foot slipped.

She let out a small gasp as the world tilted beneath her, but before panic could set in, strong arms caught her.

Zack’s reflexes kicked in fast, and he caught her easily mid-air. The ladder clattered behind them, but neither of them looked.

Aerith froze.

Her face was inches from his, her heart pounding—not from the fall, but from the way his hands lingered gently at her waist, from the sudden hush that had fallen between them.

For a long, breathless moment, neither of them moved. They just looked at each other.

“Caught you,” Zack said quietly, his voice teasing but softer now.

She blinked, her lips parting to say something.

When a voice suddenly cut through the stillness.

“Oh! Sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt!” Tifa blurted from the corner, snapping them back into reality. 

Notes:

Thanks for reading the second chapter!! <3

I usually always write everything chronologically, but this time I wrote all the interesting cloti scenes first and then pieced them together, one by one. I think it didn't turn out that well, the pacing is off but I hope you liked it regardless!

I think Cloud and Tifa were very cute in this chapter!

I hope I can post the last one soon!

Chapter 3

The bright light of noon spilled into Tifa’s room. She smoothed out her dress, throwing one last glance at the mirror. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple, soft pink dress, but it made her feel cute, and the color matched the natural flush in her cheeks.

She adjusted the ribbon in her hair for what must have been the fifth time, then sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed. Her legs bounced restlessly. She kept telling herself to calm down, but her body wasn’t listening.

She hoped she wouldn’t come off as too much. The last thing she wanted was to scare Cloud off with her excitement, even if her stomach was fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird.

The mood downstairs had been sour. After she’d come home from detention, her dad hadn’t yelled, but the disappointment in his voice had stung more than anger ever could. He had told her again how Cloud was “trouble,” how she got detention just because of his bad influence on her, and how she was better off staying away from him.

But Tifa hadn’t backed down. Something about how her dad was pushing against Cloud made her feel rebellious. So she straightened her back and told him the truth with an unwavering voice. She had made plans with Cloud for today. And it wasn’t just them hanging out together as friends. It was a date. A real one.

The memory still tightened her stomach. The look of disappointment her dad shot her. To say he hated the idea of it was an understatement. But in the end, he’d only let out a long, weary sigh and didn’t try to stop her. His final words still echoed in her ears: “I just worry about you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

She didn’t think Cloud would ever hurt her. But still, the worry of her father’s doubt weighed her down as she finally stood up and gathered her things.

Outside her window, across the narrow space between their houses, Cloud stood at his own window, hair a little messy like he’d tried to fix it and then given up halfway. He didn’t wave, but when their eyes met, he gave her a soft, almost shy, smile. Her heart jumped.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and quickly typed something into it.

Her phone in her handbag vibrated, she quickly fished it out to check the screen.

Cloud: “You ready?”

Tifa bit her lip, smiling to herself. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she typed back: “Yea, i’m ready to go, so… good luck!”

She looked up just in time to catch Cloud’s expression as he read her message. He glanced over at her, question mark in his face.

Cloud: “Good luck?”

Tifa tried to hold back a laugh as she typed her reply. “My dad wants to talk to you before we leave.”

There was a pause, long enough to make her wonder if he was rethinking everything, before his reply came:

Cloud: “...so should I bring a bulletproof vest or you think it’s safe?”

She met his eyes across the narrow space between their windows and grinned. Then she lifted her hand in a mock salute and mouthed, “Good luck, soldier.”

Cloud gave a faint smirk, half amusement, half fear, and she closed the curtains before heading downstairs.

Her father was already waiting at the dinner table, arms crossed, expression a mix of displeasure and resignation, like he had accepted the situation, but wasn’t happy about it.

Tifa paused at the foot of the stairs, suddenly feeling like she was twelve again and in trouble for sneaking out. “I’m leaving now,” she said carefully.

Her father gave her a long look. “Is he outside?”

She nodded. “He’ll be here any second.”

A brief silence. “All right. I want to talk to him first.”

Tifa slipped into her shoes. “Be nice,” she murmured as she opened the door.

“I’ll try,” he grumbled, standing up. “No promises.”

Cloud was already walking up the path, hands in his pockets, shoulders stiff with anticipation. When he saw her dad waiting at the door, he slowed just a bit.

Tifa gave him a tiny, encouraging smile and stepped aside to let her father move forward.

Her dad, Brian, looked Cloud over, not unkindly, but definitely not warmly either. His greeting wasn’t more than a nod.

“Hello, Mr. Lockhart.” Cloud said while straightening. Tifa could tell he was trying to swallow his nerves and found it oddly endearing. “Thanks for letting Tifa go out with me today.”

“Let’s go inside to talk”, her dad mumbled and made his way back to the dinner table. Cloud followed him.

“Thanks… for doing this,” Tifa whispered as he passed her.

She remained in the hallway, her heart thudding. From inside the kitchen, she heard the scrape of chairs against the floorboards as they sat down. Tifa subconsciously held her breath, like she was the one being interrogated. She needed this to go well.

Her dad was the first to speak, firm and measured like he was trying to stay calm but had a point to make. She couldn’t make out every word, but she heard things like responsibility, future, and only what’s best for Tifa.

Then Cloud’s voice, quieter but certain, “I know,” “I won’t,” and “I would never hurt her.” A pause. “I really like her.”

Her heart squeezed. She pressed a hand to her chest.

More quiet rumbling from her dad. No shouting, no anger, but serious. Protective. She heard something about priorities and getting on the right path.

Then, after another pause, her dad sighed. A long, heavy sound, followed by a chair scraping the floor and, finally, footsteps.

Tifa stepped quickly back, pretending she’d been checking her phone the whole time.

Their faces gave nothing away, yet Tifa felt the weight lifted off her shoulders. At least the worst was over now.

“Have a good time,” her dad muttered, leaning against the wooden doorframe of the kitchen.

“Thanks, Dad,” Tifa replied with a half-smile.

Cloud opened the door for her, and they slipped outside, together. Why was her heart beating so loudly? Cloud closed the door behind them with a quiet click that made her feel so aware that their date was starting now.

They stood there on the front porch for a moment. The afternoon sun warmed their faces while spring bloomed around them. Neither of them seemed to know what to say.

Then Cloud glanced at her from the corners of her eyes. “You, uh…” he rubbed the back of his neck, voice low, “You look beautiful today. I mean… not just today…” He fell silent on those last syllables.

Tifa blinked, caught off guard by the sudden compliment. Her cheeks flushed as a small, bashful laugh slipped past her lips. “Thank you.”

A shy silence fell between them.

“So…” Tifa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “How did it go? With my dad?”

Cloud glanced back at the door with a grimace, as if replaying the conversation in his mind. “Could’ve gone worse, I guess. I think he wanted to kill me a little less by the end.”

She let out a quiet laugh. “I’m glad. Sorry you had to deal with that. He just worries a lot.”

He grinned, not too much because it was tough to get a sincere, genuine smile out of him, but just enough to stir the butterflies in her stomach. “He cares about you. I get it.”

Tifa nodded, and their eyes met for a moment. The tension was palpable.

“Wanna head to the festival?” she asked, needing to break the tension.

“Yeah,” he said, his smile lingering. “Let’s go.”

They started walking down the street, shoulders so close they almost touched. The silence followed them, broken only by the rhythm of their footsteps on the pavement.

It felt strange.

Usually, they had too much to say; teasing, laughing, talking about nothing for hours. That was what she loved most about being with him: how easy it all felt, like the spring breeze ruffling her hair.

But now the words stuck in her throat.

She wanted to tell him how her morning went, how she made her dad’s favorite breakfast to get him into a good mood, how she tried three different dresses before settling on this one. But nothing came out.

That’s when the realization sank in.

This wasn’t just hanging out.

This was a date.

Their first real date.

And with that thought, the pressure tightened around her chest, making it hard to breathe.

What if the date went badly? Would they go back to being just friends? Could they? Now that the door to something more had cracked open, it was impossible to pretend it hadn’t.

The idea of spending the rest of her life as just Cloud’s friend made her stomach twist. To always be near him but never close enough. To always carry that quiet ache, that hope left unspoken. It had been burning inside her for so long, ever since the day she baked those cupcakes and decided to tell him how she felt.

That’s why today had to go well.

Somehow, some way, she had to make it work. She wanted this, him, too much to let it slip through her fingers. She didn’t know exactly how to make the day perfect, but she was determined to try. She’d waited too long for a chance like this.

Her mind buzzed with possibilities, scenes from novels, moments from dramas she’d watched, romantic lines she might borrow, gestures she could recreate. But now that she was actually here, walking beside him, her nerves took over.

Her legs moved on autopilot, one foot after the other. Her cheeks burned, and her throat felt dry, like all the words she wanted to say had turned to dust.

And then, as if he sensed the struggle inside her, she felt his fingers brush gently against hers.

A moment’s hesitation. And then he took her hand, fully, completely, warm and steady.

She was instantly flooded with relief, like a weight had been lifted, letting her lungs fill and her body come back to life.

Without thinking, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze in return. A silent thank you. A way to say, I needed that, even if she couldn’t say the words outloud.

The sunlight bathed everything in gold as they approached the school grounds, now transformed into a lively fair. Food stalls filled the air with delicious aromas, people lined up at game stands, and everything was decorated beautifully and colorfully. It filled her with pride as she took everything in, knowing she and Cloud had helped build so much of it, even if they hadn’t exactly volunteered.

Tifa felt the spring blossoming in her heart.

“Wow,” Cloud murmured beside her as his eyes scanned the festival ground. “We actually did a great job.”

She let out a soft laugh, her sunkissed cheeks tinting pink. “Guess we make a pretty good team, huh?”

Cloud’s thumb brushed lightly over the back of her hand. “Guess we do,” he said, meeting her gaze.

Their eyes held for a breath too long, like neither wanted to look away.

Then, with a quiet softness in his voice that made her heart flutter, he asked, “So… what do you want to do first?”

Tifa’s eyes lit up. “Everything!”

Cloud smiled. “Sure thing.”

They moved through the festival at an easy pace, shoulders brushing now and then as they walked. The laughter and chatter of the other students filled the school grounds as Cloud and Tifa explored one booth after another.

They made a competition out of every game, both unwilling to lose and far too stubborn to let the other win easily. Cloud nailed the darts on his first try and wore a smug little grin when she groaned in defeat. “Beginner’s luck,” she teased, elbowing him.

But she won at the basketball booth, sinking in one shot after another. “Guess we’re even,” she smiled.

Their hands brushed a few times as they passed tickets or reached for prizes—tiny sparks each time that sent a current through her chest. Tifa found herself hyper-aware of the space between them, the nearness of his arm, the heat radiating off his skin. She wondered if she’d ever get used to being this close to him.

At one point, as they moved through the crowd, someone stepped back suddenly and bumped hard into Tifa. She stumbled, but before she could react, Cloud’s arm was already in front of her like a shield. His glare shot straight into the guy’s soul, cold and sharp. The guy mumbled an apology and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Cloud didn’t say anything. He just let out a steadying breath and took Tifa’s hand, threading their fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world, and led her carefully away from the chaos.

Her heart thudded so loud she was sure he could hear it. She followed his lead in silence, her hand tucked safely in his, wishing the moment would never end.

Once they reached a quieter corner of the festival, Cloud glanced at her, his brows slightly knit.
“You okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

She gave a quick shake of her head, smiling softly. “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

He looked her over from head to toe, just to be sure, then let out a quiet sigh. “You hungry?”

Tifa nodded. “Yeah, a little.”

“What are you in the mood for?”

She paused, lifting her head as a familiar scent drifted by. “Let’s have some Dango!”

Cloud followed her gaze, and they both spotted the small stall across the path, bright with streamers and a colorful sign. “Let’s check it out.”

They made their way over, weaving between a few students, but as they stepped up to the counter, the vendor gave them a sheepish smile. “Sorry, kids, that was the last one.”

Tifa blinked. “Oh. That’s okay.”

“We’ll take it,” Cloud said quickly, pulling out his wallet.

They glanced at each other. A beat passed. Then they both laughed.

“I mean,” Tifa said, grinning, “we could share.”

Cloud tilted his head, considering. “If you don’t mind.”

She shook her head. “But I get the first bite.”

He handed over the money and took the skewer carefully. The dango were shiny and warm, shimmering in the sunlight. Cloud held it out in front of her.

Tifa leaned in, so close she could feel the electricity buzzing between them as she took a bite. Her gaze dropped to her feet, unable to meet his from such a narrow distance; the glimmer in his blue eyes was just too much. “Mmm,” she said as she chewed. “Glad we got the last one.”

Cloud smiled as she leaned back. He took his own bite and gave a small, satisfied nod. “Yeah. Not bad.”

They passed it back and forth like that, standing a little closer than before, fingers occasionally brushing as they shared the last bites.

Tifa licked a bit of glaze from her lip and looked up at him, a teasing glint in her eyes. “So, what is your favorite food anyway? Funny that I don’t even know that.”

Cloud seemed to hesitate, his cheeks slightly flushing in embarrassment. “…Milk? I guess…”

She blinked, then laughed. “That’s not food, Cloud. That’s a drink.”

“It still counts,” he said defensively, but the faint pink on his ears gave him away. “What about you?”

Tifa grinned. “Donuts, for sure!”

“All right then,” Cloud smiled. “Next time, I’ll bring milk, you bring donuts. It’s a date.”

Tifa glanced away shyly. “Next time, huh?”

Cloud shrugged, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. Our next date. Didn’t you say yourself we make a great team?”

She let the words hang in the air for a moment. Then she looked down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah,” she said softly. “We do.”

She heard him release a soft chuckle, but couldn’t dare to meet his eyes. Her heart skipped at the thought of a next date, that going on dates with Cloud could be a regular thing in the future. Like a couple. It filled her heart with joy as she peeked up at him through her lashes, the corner of her lips forming into a smile. The sun caught the edge of his hair, and for a second, she forgot how to breathe.

As if he felt the weight of the silence too, Cloud shifted and looked around. “What do you want to do next?” he asked.

Tifa pressed a finger to her chin, grateful for the question before her thoughts could run too far ahead. Her eyes scanned the festival grounds until something caught her attention. “Oh! A photo booth!”

She turned to him, eyes bright with anticipation. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Cloud gave a small nod, and this time, when he took her hand, there was no hesitation. His grip was steady and confident, like he wasn’t afraid to hold her anymore. Hand in hand, they made their way to the booth.

They ducked inside, the curtain falling closed behind them with a soft swish, shutting out the outside world. It was a little cramped, the bench barely big enough for two. Their knees bumped as they sat, the air between them growing warmer, charged with something new and exciting.

Tifa reached for the screen and tapped through the options, selecting a classic strip of four photos. “Ready?” she asked, her voice light with excitement.

Cloud nodded.

The countdown lit up: 3... 2... 1...

The first photo was simple. Tifa smiled softly, and Cloud wore his usual unreadable expression. But later, when Tifa inspected the pictures more closely, she could tell there was a glint of happiness in his eyes.

Left without much time to think of a new pose for the second photo, the countdown resumed. Tifa panicked a little and quickly raised her hand in a peace sign—the first thing that came to mind.

Beside her, Cloud shifted slightly, and their thighs brushed. The contact sent a jolt through her, the fabric of his pants burning against her bare skin.

3… 2… 1… The flash went off again.

“How about a silly one next?” she blurted out.

“Sure,” Cloud said, his voice low and calm.

Tifa stuck her tongue out playfully, trying to lean into the moment. She wanted to peek at him, see if he was doing something silly too, but the next countdown had already begun.

3… 2… 1… Another flash. Only one more to go.

This time, she hesitated. She had no more ideas and felt the last one had to be the best and most meaningful one.

Before she could overthink it, Cloud turned toward her, like he was about to say something. So she turned too.

The space between them shrank. Her breath caught. They were so close, the world outside the booth fading into nothing, the tiny curtain behind them shutting everything else out. It felt like time had stopped inside this cramped little space, just the two of them suspended in the moment.

She swallowed, her heart pounding. Her gaze dipped to his lips.

He did the same.

Her body moved before she had time to think. She closed her eyes and leaned in, just like he did. Their faces only inches apart, breath mingling, the scent of him dizzying, comforting, overwhelming.

Just as their lips were about to meet… Flash. The last photo.

Tifa’s eyes fluttered open. For a heartbeat, she was disoriented. The brightness, the booth, the festival, it all came rushing back. She leaned away, feeling the magic of the moment fleeting away. She let out a quiet breath that sounded too much like a nervous laugh. “Guess that was the last photo,” she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Cloud gave the faintest nod, lips twitching. “Yeah… that was fun.”

They sat like that for a moment, not quite sure how to move forward, the heat of the moment lingering between them like a held note. Tifa needed a moment for her heart to calm its beat.

Then the soft whirring sound of the photo strip being printed called their attention. They got out of the booth, the harsh light of the sun blinding them for a moment, till their eyes grew accustomed to it.

Tifa grabbed the strip from the small slot and held it up between them.

The first photo was sweet and simple, the shyness visible between them. The second, a little looser, her peace sign in the air, and Cloud had turned one corner of his lips into a lazy half smile. The third made her laugh: she had stuck out her tongue, and Cloud had tried to look serious, furrowing his brow like some kind of villain, though his eyes gave him away.

And then there was the last photo.

It captured them leaning in, faces so close, eyes shut, both on the brink of crossing over to the next step of their young relationship. “Oh…” she whispered, holding it a little closer. Her cheeks burned hot.

Cloud leaned in slightly to see, and after a long pause, he whispered, “We should do that again.” His tone gave nothing away. Was he teasing, was he sincere? She wasn’t sure.

Tifa turned to him, eyes wide. “You mean the photos, or…?”

His lips lifted into a half-smile. “Sure. The photos. What else would I mean?”

She gave a small, breathy laugh, folding the strip in half and tucking it into her pocket. “Maybe later. We still have a lot to explore.” The truth was, she wasn’t sure her heart was ready to face the narrow space of just her and Cloud so close again.

Cloud nodded once. “Right. So what’s next?”

Tifa’s eyes lit up. “Oh! They’ve got crane games! We’ve got to try those!”

“You like those?”

She gave a little shrug, trying to play it casual. “They’re fun. And, you know… skill-based.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re good at them?”

“Not really,” she said, feigning innocence. The truth was she secretly loved hanging out in the Arcade after Karate practice and had nailed the skill of the crane game by now. But for today she had a different idea.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Let’s do it then!”

“Only if you go first,” she insisted.

Cloud blinked. “Me?”

She grinned. “Yeah. I want you to win something for me!” Tifa felt like this was the type of thing a boy should do for the girl he’s on a date with. Win her cute plushy.

He gave a small, amused exhale. “Guess I have no other choice, huh?”

They stepped to an open machine filled with tiny chocobos, cactuars, and moogles.

“Which one do you want?” He asked as he scanned them.
Tifa smiled, glancing sideways at his hair. “The Chocobo.”

“Chocobo it is then,” he replied, while rolling up his sleeve, suddenly taking on a focused expression like this was serious business.

Tifa stood beside him, hands folded behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels. “You can do this,” she said encouragingly, “I believe in you.”

The first attempt missed entirely, Cloud didn’t get the tempo of the crane right. The second one grazed the chocobo slightly. Cloud sighed loudly. The third try at least lifted the chocobo up a little before dropping it again.

“Want a tip?” Tifa asked innocently.

He gave her a side glance. “Thought you weren’t good at this?”

She smiled sweetly, leaning in close enough for her shoulder to bump his. “I might be a little bit better than you, still.”

Cloud huffed. “Of course you are. What aren’t you good at?” The casualty of which he said it made Tifa’s cheek blush, like he wasn’t even aware of the compliment.

But Cloud was too motivated, too stubborn, to accept any advice and kept on trying again and again.

By the seventh attempt, Tifa could no longer keep from commenting. “Okay, tilt the claw a little more to the left this time… no, not that much. Just a little.”

Cloud followed her advice without comment. The claw descended. It latched onto the yellow toy, and when it dropped into the prize chute, Tifa let out a small, delighted gasp.

“You did it!” she laughed, clapping softly. “I knew you could!”

He reached in and pulled out the soft, puffy little chocobo. “Took seven tries. Hope it was worth it.”

Tifa reached for the plush and petted its head lovingly. “It certainly is.”

Cloud looked down at her. “Why do I still feel like you could have just won it yourself way easier if you really wanted it?”

She met his eyes. “This way it means way more. Now it's not just a cute Chocobo plush but a gift from you.” Her lips turned into a soft and sincere smile.

And he couldn’t help but smile back at her with a sweet, youthful intensity that matched hers.

But the moment didn’t last.

Footsteps crunched on the gravel behind them, followed by a sharp voice. “Hey, you!”

Tifa turned instinctively. Two boys, one white-haired and the other dark-haired, were approaching. She recognized their uniforms and the crest on their pristine blazers: Shinra Private Academy. Their rival school.

What were they doing here, on Midgard Seventh High’s festival? And why did they seem to know Cloud?

The expressions on their faces weren’t friendly. Cold and sharp like they were here looking for trouble.

“Strife,” the white-haired one said, his voice was cold like ice. “Nice to see you again.”

The way he said Cloud’s last name made Tifa instinctively clench her fists.

Cloud stepped forward without a word, positioning himself between her and them, shielding her with his body.

“Get lost,” he said flatly. His voice was stern and controlled, something she wasn’t used to. It frightened her.

The dark-haired boy stepped up beside his friend, his tone smoother but just as sharp. “We’ve got unfinished business.”

Tifa frowned. Unfinished business? What was this about?

Her eyes flicked to Cloud. Was this about that stupid title again? Did he fight these guys before? Her mind spiraled with questions, but the tension around them tightened before she could ask.

“Hey, there you guys are.” Zack’s voice cut through the thickness of the air like a breeze. His hands were buried deep in his pockets as he strolled up, a casual smile on his face.

Aerith was at his side, rolling her sleeves up like she was ready to throw hands.

Zack looked around the school grounds. “This is a family-friendly event. Let’s not start a fight here, huh?”

The white-haired boy took a step forward. There was something off about him, something cold and calculated. Tifa didn’t like it.

“On the contrary,” he said smoothly, “I think this is the perfect time for the real brawler first-class to settle things. Shinra’s finest,” he added, casting a look toward Zack, “versus Midgard High’s loudest.”

Then his eyes shifted to Cloud. “And the reject who just won’t quit.”

Cloud tensed. His hands curled into fists.

“Look,” Cloud said, voice low, trying to calm the tension down, “today’s not the day. Let’s settle this another time.”

The boy stepped closer, close enough for Tifa to read the golden name tag on his uniform. Sephiroth.

“Oh?” He tilted his head. “Is it because you’re with a girl today?”

Something in Cloud snapped. “Stay away from her.” His voice dropped an octave, raw and dangerous. It frightened Tifa to see him like that.

Sephiroth chuckled darkly, and his friend, his name tag read Angeal, grinned.

“Looks like we found your weakness,” Sephiroth said. “I wonder how far I can push it.”

Zack’s smile vanished. “Enough,” he said, arms crossed now, voice serious. “You want a fight, it’s with me.”

“And me,” Aerith added, cracking her knuckles with excitement.

“You heard them,” Cloud sighed and reached for Tifa’s wrist, firm but not enough to hurt her. “We’re leaving.”

The tension in his arm was palpable as he pulled her along with him, trying to get away from this storm about to break.

Sephiroth watched the struggle in Cloud’s eyes with amusement.
“What’s the matter?” he teased. “Afraid you’ll embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend? Don’t want her to see you crying when I break your nose?”

Cloud kept on moving.

“Thought she was out of your league, anyway,” Sephiroth added. “Or was she just the only girl dumb enough to fall for your fake bad boy act?”

Cloud stopped walking.

He turned slowly, the look in his eyes dark and unreadable. “What did you just say?”

Sephiroth smirked. “Come on, Strife. You’re just a loser. She must be real desperate to go out with a guy like you.”

“Oh hell no! You do not talk about Tifa like that”, Aerith chimed in with disgust.

Cloud dropped Tifa’s hand. “That’s it.”

And so he lunged forward. His hands were balled into tight fists as he swung his arm and aimed straight for Sephiroth’s face. But Sephiroth’s reflexes were sharp and he ducked the punch right in time with a smooth sidestep.

Zack joined right in, targeting Angeal before he could reach Cloud. Aerith, small as she was, ducked low and made her way to Sephiroth, throwing a punch right in his ribcage.

Chaos broke out on the school ground with students gathering around them and cheering them on. Since Cloud, Zack and Aerith were fighting the rival school, naturally everybody was rooting for them. Some of them pulled out their flip phones and started recording the brawl.

Tifa’s stomach tightened at the sight of it. She hated fights. Fights that didn’t take place on a mat, with a set of rules, and with a trainer by her side.

Cloud kept going for Sephiroth; all his earlier restraints were gone, replaced by a fiery rage in his sky-blue eyes. They clashed hard, punch for punch, Cloud barely blocking in time as Sephiroth’s strikes came in swiftly and precisely. Practiced. He must train somewhere as well. And he was certainly a good student. Tifa recognized his form and stance.

“Don’t ever talk about her like that again!” Cloud roared, driving a knee up into Sephiroth’s ribs, but the other boy twisted, countering with a brutal elbow to Cloud’s nose.

He stumbled back, blood blooming from his nose.

“Cloud!” Tifa cried. Her heart sank.
Aerith spun through the crowd, throwing her whole weight into a wild shoulder slam into Angeal, buying Zack some time to go for Sephiroth and help Cloud out.

Sephiroth’s strikes were fast and sharp, but Zack had the strength, and although he was missing professional practice form, still made a great fighter.

“You shouldn’t have come here”, Zack yelled and hit Sephiroth right in the jaw, who barely missed out on dodging.

Tifa flinched from the sheer sight of it. It must have been incredibly painful. But Sephiroth was tough, smiling with his busted lip like this was exactly what he hoped for.

Cloud, in the meantime, caught himself again, blood dripping down his face, coloring his shirt red. He wiped his face with the back of his hand and stormed right back into the fight. Punches were flying left and right; a messy chaos of limbs and pained groans.

Where were the teachers? Why wasn’t anyone stopping them?

Tifa couldn’t take it anymore. She charged forward.

“Back off!” she shouted, her voice slicing through the noise. Sephiroth turned in time to see her coming, but he wasn’t fast enough.

Her foot slammed into his chest with a clean, devastating roundhouse kick, the force of it knocking him backward into the grass. His breath flew from his lungs with a grunt, and for a split second, the entire schoolyard went still.

Angeal and Zack froze. Aerith blinked.

Sephiroth looked stunned, afraid even.

Tifa stood over him, hair falling in her face, chest rising and falling fast. “Get away from my school,” she snapped, “And don’t come back!”

Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and grabbed Cloud by the arm, firmer than she meant to. Frustration bubbled inside her, leaving no room for gentleness.

“Let’s go,” she ordered as she stormed off without looking back.

Cloud stumbled slightly as she yanked him along, limping like he was injured. She felt his warm, sticky blood on his hand. The crowd parted around them, already looking bored now that the fight was over.

Tifa didn’t stop until they reached the school’s doors and pushed them open with force. Inside, it was quiet and cold, a world separate from the festival outside.

“Tifa, I—”

“Don’t.” She didn’t look at him. “Not now.”

She led him down the hall and pushed open the infirmary door. The nurse wasn’t there. No one was on duty on a festival Saturday. The room felt eerie and sterile.

“Sit,” she said, pointing at the bed in the corner. Her voice left no room for argument.

Cloud obeyed without a word, blood still trickling from his nose, his leg dragging slightly as he moved.

He sat on the edge with his shoulders slumped. Blood still ran from his nose, down his upper lip. He winced and tilted his head back slightly, blinking up at the ceiling like he didn’t know what to say.

Tifa opened the small cabinet near the sink, pulling out a clean cloth and a small bottle of antiseptic. Her hands were shaking a little. She didn’t say anything, didn’t want him to know about the battle she was fighting within. She ran the cloth under cold water, wrung it out, and turned back to him.

“Hold still,” she said quietly, stepping between his knees.

He flinched slightly as the cold cloth touched his skin, but didn’t pull away. Tifa gently dabbed at the blood, careful around the bridge of his nose.

“I don’t think it’s broken,” she sighed in relief.

Once she’d wiped away the worst of the blood, she turned to get the antiseptic and a fresh cloth.

He didn’t speak; the silence between them was heavy and uncomfortable. Tifa wondered what was going through his mind, if he even realized how badly he’d scared her.

When she returned, she knelt in front of him and gently pushed up the leg of his pants. His knee was scraped and swelling, the skin around it already turning purple.

She hissed under her breath. “You idiot.”

He tried to chuckle, but it turned into a wince.

Tifa poured a little antiseptic on a fresh cloth and pressed it to the injury. Cloud tensed, sucking in a breath, but stayed still.

She hated the sight of all of this, hated it so much. Why was he still getting into trouble? Hadn’t he promised her dad just earlier that he would get his act right? Was he already breaking his promise? Did he even care?

On autopilot, she cleaned the wound, but her thoughts spiraled with flashes of the fight, what could’ve gone wrong, the crowd cheering like it was entertainment. And then fear… the dread of what the future would look like if he didn’t change.

And then she was losing her inner battle. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

From her spot on the floor, she looked up at him through her lashes. “Why do you keep doing this? Getting into stupid fights?” she whispered.

Cloud looked down at her, eyes shimmering with regret.

“You promised my dad, remember?” Her voice cracked. “You said you would get your act right.”

He swallowed. His hand twitched on his thigh, like he wanted to reach for her but wasn’t sure if he had the right.

She looked away, pressing the cloth a little harder into the wound, maybe out of frustration.

“Cloud,” she said again, quieter this time. Her chin dropped to rest gently against his knee, eyes closed. Another tear fell. “Quit pretending to be a bad boy.”

There was a charged, heavy silence, the seconds ticking by slowly.

And then, Cloud reached out. Slowly and carefully. His fingers tilted her chin up, making her look at him.

His touch was warm. So was his voice when he spoke. “This?” he said softly, glancing at his bruised knee. “This is nothing.” He looked back at her, thumb brushing a tear from her cheek.
“Nothing compared to knowing I caused you pain.” His voice faltered. “I’m sorry, Tifa. I mean it. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

Tifa didn’t say anything for a while. She just looked at him, at his eyes, so full of remorse.

He meant it. She could see that now.

She nodded once and gave him a small smile. He would try to be better for her.

“But I have one question,” she said tentatively. “Why did it make you so mad what that Sephiroth guy said? You were about to leave.”

Cloud exhaled sharply, eyes glancing sideways, like he tried to avoid her gaze. “Because he was right,” Cloud whispered. “I am just a loser. Can’t even make it brawler first class. Why would you go out with me?”

Tifa’s smile faded. She looked at him for a long moment, like she was trying to decide what to say or maybe holding back a dozen things she wanted to say all at once.

Then, quietly but firmly, she said, “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that.”

Cloud blinked, caught off guard.

“I don’t care about that title. In fact, I think it’s stupid,” she went on, voice rising just slightly. “You think I like you because you’re a tough guy?”

She scoffed under her breath, standing up and folding her arms. “You’re not a loser, Cloud. You’re someone who makes me laugh, who brightens my days, and makes me excited to get up in the morning.

Her eyes shimmered, and she looked away as she continued speaking. “I like you because underneath that tough exterior you put up in front of the world, you are sweet and gentle. You care a lot, and you make me feel seen.” She took a step away, her cheeks burning red.

“So stop calling yourself a loser. You’re not a loser to me. You’re the boy I like, the one I think about all the time.”

She straightened her back, unable to face him. “That's it, by the way. That’s what I wanted to tell you on the rooftop.”

For a second, the room was quiet again, heavy with the weight of her words.

Tifa risked a glance in his direction, seeing him stumped by her sudden confession, cheeks blushing red, just like hers.

“Tifa, I–” he started and fell silent, like his thoughts were scattered all over and he couldn’t find what to say.

“Save it,” she said. “I don’t need to hear it now.” She glanced through the window where dusk was painting the sky purple and pink. “We’re missing the festival. Let’s go.”

And without giving him a chance to speak, she reached for his hand, pulling him along.

They stepped out into the fresh evening air, the school festival now bathed in deep blues and soft oranges. The booths were still open, illuminated by the fairy lights they’d hung up a few days earlier. It looked like the stars had fallen from the sky and scattered themselves across the campus.

Tifa hadn’t let go of Cloud’s hand. Together, they wandered back through the festival at a slow pace, as if trying to savor every last second before it ended. Zack and Aerith spotted them and waved. They looked closer than before, his arm resting comfortably on her hip.

Cloud and Tifa shared cotton candy, and Tifa could tell he was pretending to like it just for her. They played a few more games, but this time it wasn’t about who won. It was just about enjoying their time together.

Then the first firework burst overhead, a red bloom against the dark night sky. Tifa gasped softly, eyes wide in awe.

“Let’s go up there for a better view,” she said, pointing toward the grassy hill behind the school gym.

They made their way up quickly as more fireworks erupted around them, painting the night in vibrant colors. The hill was quiet and cut off from the crowd, their own little world.

Tifa’s gaze stayed locked on the sky, the bursts of color reflected in her eyes. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

But Cloud wasn’t looking at the fireworks. She could feel his eyes on her.

“It is,” he said quietly.

Their bodies moved together more naturally now, partly because the night brought a cold breeze, but mostly because it just felt right. They wanted to be close. Their arms brushed, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He reached around her, his hand settling gently on her arm, pulling her even closer.

For a while, they simply watched the sky together, a breathtaking moment suspended in time.

And then, as if they both felt it at the same time, they turned toward each other. Their eyes met, soft and searching.

Cloud lifted his hand to her face, his fingertips brushing her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin in the lightest touch. It made her heart race.

His gaze flicked to her lips, then back to her eyes as if asking a silent question. She gave a small, sure nod.

This was the perfect moment.

Cloud swallowed and then slowly and carefully leaned in.

Tifa’s eyes fluttered close, her breath catching as she waited for the soft touch of his lips. It was her very first kiss, and with Cloud of all people.

Once their lips touched, it was gentle like a whisper. His lips were warm, and the world seemed to fall away. The muffled bursts of fireworks in the background faded, like someone had turned the volume down on everything except this.

Cloud lingered for a moment, just long enough to make her heart ache with sweetness. It wasn’t rushed or messy, it was tender, and a little bit unsure. He kissed her like she was something fragile and precious.

When they finally parted, Cloud didn’t move far. His forehead rested lightly against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. Tifa opened her eyes, meeting his, and saw the same wonder and disbelief she felt inside.

“I really like you, too,” he whispered. “Always have. For as long as I can remember. You’re wonderful, Tifa.” He took a deep breath. “That’s what I wanted to say in the infirmary.”

Tifa giggled softly, a happy tear rolling down her cheek. “Took you long enough.”

They stayed like that for a moment longer, letting it all sink in, before Cloud gently pulled her into his arms. Her head rested against his chest, and she felt the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her cheek.

He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head as the final bursts of fireworks lit up the sky.

Then the silence of the night wrapped around them, and for once, everything felt exactly as it should be.

The festival slowly wrapped up and Cloud and Tifa made their way back home, slowly and their hands intertwined. The street lanterns bathed them in an amber glow. Tifa had never been drunk before, but the way her heart jumped in her chest and her head was dizzy, probably felt much like it.

They didn’t need to say much, the silence of the night was comfortable. Still, Tifa had one thing burning in her mind. “Sooo,” she began, stretching the vowel with a teasing lilt. “Does this mean we’re like… dating? Officially?”

Cloud’s lips twitched into a smile. “If it’s up to me, then yes. Definitely yes.”

“Perfect.” Her grin lit up her whole face. “That means you’ll now have to attend all of my karate competitions. And the piano recitals. Also, you’ll have to try everything I bake. Being my boyfriend comes with responsibilities, you know.”

“Oh no,” he replied, feigning dread. “Maybe I should’ve read the fine print more carefully.”

They both laughed.

“One question, though,” Cloud said, his tone softening, a hint of nervousness slipping in. He chewed on his lower lip. “You think your dad’s gonna mind?”

Tifa shrugged, unbothered. “He’ll have to deal with it. Besides, I think you’ve got nothing to worry about.” She glanced at him playfully, “You’re going to be a good boyfriend, right?”

Cloud nodded, his smile sincere. “I’ll try my best,” he said quietly. “I promise.”

“Good. Then join us for dinner tomorrow!” Tifa beamed. “I’m making pot roast. He’ll be in a good mood, you’ll see!”

Cloud smiled. “And then milk and donuts for dessert?”

She nodded eagerly. “It’s a date!”

“Might still not be too late to get that bulletproof vest,” he muttered under his breath.

Tifa rolled her eyes and playfully pinched his arm. “You’ll be fine.”

Too soon, they reached their houses. Crickets chirped softly around them, the night wrapping the neighborhood in a sleepy hush.

They paused at the base of Tifa’s porch, both reluctant to say goodbye. Cloud reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Goodnight, Tifa,” he whispered. “Sweet dreams.”

Tifa blushed, her heart fluttering. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight,” she admitted.

He smirked. “Me neither.”

She raised a finger to her lips, like she was sharing a secret. “Then let’s text until we fall asleep.”

“And if it takes all night?”

“Even better.”

His smile turned soft. “For sure.” Then he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

Reluctantly, he turned and strolled toward the house next door. Tifa didn’t go inside until she couldn’t see him anymore.

Inside, she slipped off her shoes, the muffled sound of a baseball game drifted in from the living room. She walked in, still wearing a giddy smile she couldn’t hide.

“Hey, pumpkin,” her dad said, raising a hand in greeting. He held a beer and barely glanced away from the screen. “How did it go?”

“It was alright,” she lied, too full of feelings to explain.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, catching the glow in her expression. “So... will I be seeing more of this Strife boy?”

She bit her lip, cheeks warming. “Yeah. A lot more.”

He gave a small sigh, trying not to roll his eyes. “We’ll have him over for dinner tomorrow.”

Tifa nodded. “Pot roast,” she said brightly.

He took a sip of his beer. “Fine.”

A flicker of guilt tugged at her. It couldn’t be easy, watching his only daughter grow up. She wondered how things would be when she left for college, how quiet the house would feel to him.

“Goodnight, Dad,” she said softly as she headed to her room.

Once inside, she dropped onto her bed, heart still soaring, and pulled out her phone. The first thing she did was open Cloud’s contact. She tried out a few names before settling on “my boyfriend.” It wasn’t creative, she would probably change it in a few days, but for now she was just happy to finally be able to call him that.

She typed a message: “Hey 💕”

His reply came almost instantly. “Hey ❤️”

Tifa pressed the phone to her chest, a grin spreading across her face. Her legs kicked into the air, feeling like she could burst from happiness.

As they texted back and forth throughout the night, talking about everything and nothing, Tifa felt like things had finally fallen into place. The confusion, the longing, the aching in her chest that had followed her for so long… it had all vanished.

She didn’t know exactly what the future would bring, but for the first time, she wasn’t scared of it. She was excited, ready to get a taste of young love, hand in hand with the boy who had always been next door.

Notes:

Thanks for reading the last chapter of this high school au!

Im sorry that it took a while to write, I wanted to finish this like early may, but life happens you know. at least im glad I could finally give this short story the happy end it deserved!

that EC high school AU event was really something! High School cloti continues to live in my head rent free.