Sephiroth stared at the card that had been left in the mailbox at the entrance to the short drive leading up to his house. This was entirely new.

Dear Sephiroth,

You are cordially invited to attend Cloud Strife's 7th birthday party on August 11.

Time: 10:00 - 4:00

Place: No. 17, 3rd Street

Please RSVP no later than August 9.

At the bottom, in Cloud's barely legible scrawl was written, Plees come Sefiroth!

A celebration of the anniversary of Cloud's birth? What was there to celebrate about that? He could understand celebrating a birth, but every year thereafter seemed a bit farfetched. He sighed and stood. He would have to ask. Bob would probably be his best bet.

He found the mayor on his way into town and pulled off the road, alerting everyone for miles to his presence with his bike's shrieking brakes. Bob was fixing some of the fence posts around the old widower Harrison's small plot of potatoes, and he paused and wiped some sweat from his forehead upon Sephiroth's arrival.

"Morning, Sephiroth," he called. "What brings you out and about?"

"Good morning, sir. I was looking for you actually."

Bob blinked in surprise, but wiped off his hands on his coveralls and stepped into the road. "Well, you've found me. What can I do for you?"

"I received this," he said, holding out the envelope with the card tucked back in. "I was wondering if you could explain."

Bob took the card out and glanced over it. "What needs explaining?"

"What's a birthday party?"

The mayor stared at him in shocked silence for a few moments. "What's a birthday party? Shiva's tits, boy, they really don't let you live back in Midgar, do they?"

Sephiroth frowned in confusion. Was this something he was supposed to know about? He didn't recall any lessons on the topic. "I apologize—"

"Don't you dare say you're sorry for not knowing. I'm glad you've figured out how to give an apology, but there are some things that you shouldn't ever have to apologize for. The inhumane way you were raised is one of them."

"Inhumane?"

Bob's face softened and he sat down on the edge of the road with his legs squashing the tall grass in the ditch. "Take a seat, son." He plucked a long piece of grass and put the end in his mouth, something Sephiroth had seen a few people do since his arrival. When Sephiroth sat next to him he heaved a big sigh as he looked out over the field. "I got the impression from Ger—your Colonel Taisha—that you don't have much of a life outside your soldiering. And that it's been that way your whole life."

"I don't mind," Sephiroth said. Bob sounded like he pitied him or something. "I'm part of a special project. I'm going to be the best SOLDIER they've ever made."

"I believe you. You've got the makings of a fine soldier. But there's a lot more to life than just that. Birthday parties, for example."

"Is it the anniversary of a birth? A celebration for it?"

"Right on the nose."

"But why? Nobody remembers being born. What's to celebrate?"

"Another year's worth of new experiences, good and bad, new friendships, new hardships and victories. And the new things to come in the next year. It's a day about you, and having people come together to celebrate the fact that you exist isn't half bad."

"I see. Does everyone do this?"

"Most people. Children especially do. Another year lived is a long time when you've only been around for seven. The way people celebrate changes as they grow older, but nearly everyone notes their birthday in one way or another."

"So it's important for me to attend?"

"You'd make Cloud's day if you did. I overheard him telling Mr. Perkins the other day how much he was looking forward to his best friend coming."

Sephiroth blinked. "Is that me? Is there a ranking system?"

Bob laughed and slapped him on the back. He'd long since given up dodging. "That's you, and no, not really. It's not a competition at any rate. But Cloud values your friendship, probably more than you'll ever know. So will you go?"

"I suppose. What do I have to do?"

"Show up, have fun, eat cake. It's generally expected to bring a small gift for the person whose birthday it is, but don't worry too much about it. He'll have plenty from the other children. Tell Mrs. Strife you're going."

"Is that what this RSVP means?"

"Yes, so she knows how many people to plan for."

"Okay, I'll do that. What sort of gift is acceptable?"

"A small toy or a book would be fine. But really, Cloud will be happy enough with your presence. You don't need to go out of your way."

Sephiroth nodded his understanding, but frowned as he stood. This was going to be the first birthday party he attended, and Cloud was his friend, despite how annoying he was. He wanted to give him a present. But what?

He thought about it as he rode slowly back to his house. Cloud liked the comics about mice, but everyone knew that. They probably knew which issues he didn't have. And Cloud didn't play with toys very often. He liked making his own out of things that he found. That task had occupied a great deal of his days over the past month. A store-bought toy might entertain him for a little while, but it wouldn't be a very memorable gift. And, as his apparent best friend, Sephiroth wanted to give him something that would be special to him. He would have to think.