This Sora kid sounds a lot like a younger version of Zack - so yeah, that other Cloud probably did like him, even if he never said so. And Leon’s talking about him like…well, like Sephiroth and the others had talked about him at the induction ceremony. So the kid’s a hero, which only emphasizes how like Zack he seems. But from the sound of things, that Cloud didn’t have actual Zack…he can’t really fathom what his life would be like without him. Y’know, other than ended very early.

Cloud has no idea what Leon means by connecting worlds, but it’s not relevant to anything as far as he knows, so he doesn’t bother asking.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind fighting with you here, but there ain’t much to fight. You ever need any odd jobs done, though, Zack and I are mercs. Just tell your DTF to contact mine.”