[ Tifa hadn't wanted to just launch into an explanation when Cloud is still in the middle of processing everything that's happened to him in the space of a few hours. It's for that reason that she lets them walk in silence for a bit, allowing Cloud the space and time that he needs to get his thoughts in order and decide what he wants to ask first.

Somehow, Tifa isn't surprised that the first thing Cloud does is ask after her. She glances over at him with a fond smile and shrugs. ]

Well, first thing's first. Let me try to explain. I don't really know how it works, but I guess if you get pulled here, time just sort of... stops moving back home.

[ She hadn't fully believed it before, but Cloud's confusion has confirmed it. He hadn't noticed her absence at all. And while Cloud may not be the most reliable narrator these days, Tifa's pretty sure that he would have picked up on it — as would everyone else in their party.

She keeps an eye on the goat as they walk, and while it insists on marching ahead of them, otherwise it's being shockingly well-behaved. Guess it's had its fun. ]

So... Barret and Aerith and everyone else, they won't realize you're gone either. It's weird, but at least this way we don't have to be stressed that they're worrying about us.