Zack’s boots clicked against the unfinished concrete of the Midgar streets as he jogged after the first-class SOLDIER, his grin wide and eyes practically sparkling with excitement. He couldn't help himself—this was the person he’d been looking up to for so long, the one who set the bar for what it meant to be a true SOLDIER. And now? He was walking right beside them! Well, maybe just behind them, but that was close enough.

“Hey! Hey!” Zack called out, trying to keep pace without tripping over his own feet. “I’ve seen you fight before! You were amazing back there, I mean—whoa! The way you took down those enemies, it was like, too smooth, you know? Like, perfect timing!” He was practically bouncing on his heels, his voice betraying the genuine enthusiasm he couldn’t hold back.

“Ugh, sorry,” he laughed a little sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m just super pumped! First-class, huh? That’s huge. I mean, I’m just Second Class, but… someday, I wanna be like you. What’s your secret? How’d you get so good? I’ve been training non-stop, but you—wow, you’ve got this insane, almost magical presence in battle. What’s it like up there, at the top?”

Zack’s questions tumbled out in a blur, each one more excited than the last. He was practically vibrating with energy, his eyes never leaving his fellow SOLDIER, hanging on every word, every movement. The streets of Midgar, still under construction, didn’t seem to slow him down. It was like nothing else mattered but the chance to learn, to be in the presence of someone who embodied everything Zack dreamed of becoming.

“You’ve gotta tell me everything! How do you stay so focused, huh? I need some tips! Do you ever feel like—y’know, the pressure of being First Class?" Zack asked, glancing sideways. "Like, everyone expects you to be this big deal, but does it ever get to you? Or do you just roll with it?"