Chapter XIX: The Parting of the Ways
The young ninja trudged across the campus miserably, a bag clutched in one hand, and a black case clutched in the other. She was followed by a party of other miserable band campers, all holding bags, all holding cases, and all just as miserable as the young ninja.
"Well, guess this is goodbye," Tifa sighed.
"We have each other's addresses, so we'll be okay," Aeris forced a smile.
And slowly, one by one, the band campers left. Some partings happy, some sad, but what could be done? It was required that everything ends at some point or another…nothing could be done, nothing at all…
"Well, Cloud, my train should be here any minute," Aeris sighed. "It's been great meeting you."
"You too."
She paused, as if expecting him to say more, but continued after he didn't.
"You're really nice. Don't ever change," she smiled.
He bit his lip, so many things he wanted to say running through his head, but none of them turning into words. What did it matter if he liked her? They lived on opposite sides of the Planet. It was hopeless to wish for anything more, right?
"Bye, Cloud," she said sadly, walking toward the train.
He couldn't say anything, all words lost. There was no way for it to work out…was there? Maybe…somehow…
She was about to board the train when his own words came back to him. As if watching his life from third person point-of-view, he could see himself talking to Sephiroth once again.
"I'll let you decide whether tomorrow will really be the end or not."
Was there really any reason to end something that had, in a sense, truly only just begun?
"Aeris!" he yelled, running after her.