Kazushige Nojima

A series of short stories filling the gaps between the hit video game Final Fantasy VII and its cinematic follow-up Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, this is an absolute must-own for any enthusiast of the Final Fantasy franchise!

On the Way to a Smile

Final Fantasy VII

Nica

"Loss will come someday, and you will grieve. The thought of that terrifies you. Thing is, you'll get used to it eventually. Even if you don't think you ever could."

"You'll never be more wrong than when absolutely convinced you've got the right answer."

"So am I doomed to never know what I'm meant to do? No matter how much I reflect, I'll never find the right way?"

"Bingo." Vincent got to his feet, signaling an end to the conversation. "You can always do nothing at all. I've made that choice before."

"You don't have any answer now, but you will eventually. Thing is, though, the answer's gonna keep changing as time passes. There's always more than one answer. You'll keep thinking about it all your life, and that's how it should be. The important thing is that you don't forget."

When you started brooding over the chasms between what was and what could be—what should be—you lost sight of the world in front of you.

“It’s not like you to get so weighted down,” Cloud told her when they were alone.

“No. You’re stronger than that. And if you’ve forgotten how to be strong, I’ll just have to remind you.”

“If I can,” he managed, suddenly blushing.

As she looked to what would soon be the ruins of Midgar, Tifa feared for her future.

But next to her, Cloud was watching the same scene and smiling serenely. That smile was nothing she’d ever seen during their travels. Cloud sensed her gaze.

“This is where it starts. A new…” He paused, looking for the right words. “A new life,” he finally said. “I’m going to keep on living. I think it’d be wrong to do anything else, after all that’s happened.”

“When I think of how many times I’ve told myself that, though, it makes me laugh.”

“But this time…I think it’ll be okay.” He thought for a bit before adding, “Because this time I have you.”

“We’ve kind of always had each other, haven’t we?”

“Yeah. But now I know what that means,” Cloud replied, smiling again.

“There are some things only kids can do. And I think you should be doing them.”

“Like helping grown-ups be strong when we need to be.”

“It’s funny, but it seems like the good people always die first.”

If you’re going to be alone no matter where you go, you might as well be in your own home.

Final Fantasy VII On the Way to a Smile

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