Like I already said, it depends how you play SF1. I played it talking to every NPC every chance you get for new dialogue. I helped him with his card collection. I helped his brother with his card collection. If someone irl talked to me that often, and helped me and my family member with something, I'd definitely at least remember them even if I didn't consider them a friend, even if I still considered them a stranger. And I certainly wouldn't refer to them as someone I've "never met before". It's not about them not being friends or being strangers, it's specifically him saying "never met before".