[Now that she's brought it up, her mind goes blank. She doesn't know what to say, or how to say it with his full attention fixed on her. More silence follows, and it's only broken when Tifa lets out a breathy, nervous chuckle. It's silly, she knows, to feel nervous or jittery about these sorts of things—even sad—so she isn't sure why she's suddenly hesitating.

Best she just comes out with it, right? Rip off the band aid, as they say?]

I think I might need to leave Heavenly Blanc for a while.

[Before he can give her any reaction to that, she quickly goes on, trying to keep her voice steady throughout.]

Seventh Heaven was destroyed, the night before I came. Shinra dropped the pillar right on top of it... I was standing there when they authorized it, and I didn't even stop it from happening. I couldn't! I tried... All of Sector Seven was gone. People's homes, my home, the bar... [Her hands ball into fists on the desk, and she gives it a punch to level herself again.] I thought I could handle being in there, but... all it's done is remind me of that. The fact that I couldn't stop it, and seeing it gone... because of them...