After a materia incident, Hojo is now a child, and Sephiroth has been ordered to ensure his protection
*Sephiroth is sitting across from a small dark-haired, bright-eyed child in his office, who is coloring happily. (Time traveler, infantry) Cloud arrives with a sealed folder from Heidegger*
Sephiroth: You can set those on the table, Strife.
Cloud: Yes sir...uh...who’s this?
Sephiroth: Professor Hojo.
*The child is coloring peacefully*
Cloud: You don’t have to tell me, I was just curious.
Sephiroth: No, I’m serious. This is Hojo. He was attempting to use a transform materia on me— again—and it hit him instead. His lab assistants are working on a reversal. In the meantime I’ve been asked to ensure his safety.
Cloud: ...And you’re doing arts and crafts with him.
Sephiroth: His mind has fully regressed. He hasn’t spoken yet but it’s evident he was quite a different person as a child. I’ve been thinking that this is actually an opportunity for positive early reinforcement. Who knows what effect nurturing could have when he returns to his adult state. It could change things considerably.
*Child Hojo proudly holds up a detailed drawing of Jenova*
Sephiroth: Look at the imagination. He’s invented an alien character completely on his own. Isn’t that darling?
Cloud: I’m not sure that’s invented!
Sephiroth: He’s a child, Strife. Don’t read into it.
*Child Hojo proudly holds up another drawing: Vincent Valentine being shot*
Cloud: OKAY and that one!?
Sephiroth: Children process complicated feelings through drawing. It’s healthy to draw vampires and dark subject matter. I’m not going to discourage creative expression.
Cloud: THAT’S NOT CREATIVE, THAT’S SPECIFIC—
*Child Hojo holds up a drawing of Sephiroth, significantly larger than everything else on the page, standing over the Planet and the Lifestream with his arms out like a god*
Sephiroth: He’s drawn me as a heroic figure. It’s very touching, actually.
Cloud: Sir, I really think if you just LOOK at the pattern here—OH. OH MY GOD LOOK! LOOK AT IT!
*Child Hojo is holding up a drawing of Cloud, unconscious, inside a mako tank. “CLOUD RECEIVING S-CELLS” is written in childish handwriting with a small arrow pointed at the scene*
Sephiroth: Aww, he made art of you. That must mean he likes you.
*Child Hojo grabs Cloud’s hand*
Cloud: I DON’T WANT IT TO LIKE ME, GET IT OFF—