However, I’m not convinced that Cloud didn’t love Aerith romantically. I’m not contesting that he loves Tifa because I think that he loves her as well.

Honestly I feel like the way Cloud acts and the way that things are portrayed in the game, Case of Tifa and in Advent Children that Aerith is ‘the one that got away’ or more accurately ‘the one that was prematurely killed’.

The reason I feel this way is because Cloud and Tifa’s relationship is very ambiguous. I agree with you that they are in fact in some sort of romantic relationship and that it is somewhat troubled. The reason it is troubled, in opinion is because of Aerith. I don’t think that guilt alone is what plagued Cloud and I disagree with you that Zack and Aerith play the same role. I believe that Aerith’s role is emphasized more though that could be because her death seemed more preventable by Cloud than Zack’s did (though I’ll admit I haven’t played Crisis Core).

I’m not sure if Cloud really loved Aerith as much as he loves Tifa but I do think that he did have some romantic attachment to her that made it harder for him to move on from her death.

Perhaps it was just how soon Aerith died that made Cloud fixate so much. She died before any sort of relationship could be established. I don’t think that his feelings for her just went away when she died. In fact I’m guessing her death probably amplified those feelings because they were mixed with grief and guilt.

Perhaps if she had lived it would have all fallen apart because well they didn’t really know each other that well anyways and a lot of Aerith’s attraction could have been because of the resemblances to Zack.

I guess what I mean is, I find it hard to believe that Cloud only felt guilt about Aerith’s death. I also find it hard to believe that that alone would stall his and Tifa’s relationship so much. I think there were some left over romantic feelings for Aerith involved even if they weren’t as strong as his feelings for Tifa.

I wanted to point out that you are especially wrong in one point.
You said that Barrets line meaning that Cloud and Tifa “are together” was meant in a romantic way. This is, however, highly wrong, because the sentence was translated differently in the official German version.
___________________________
“Marlene habe ich bei Tifa gelassen. Sie ist ihr gegenüber sehr zutraulich.”
“Und Cloud? Ist er auch bei Tifa?”
“Ja. Tifa hat ein Lokal aufgemacht, genau wie damals. Cloud hat ihr eine Weile dabei geholfen, doch jetzt hat er wohl genug mit seiner eigenen Arbeit zu tun. Er hat einen Lieferservice aufgemacht.”
“Cloud und ein Lieferservice?”
“Ich schätze, Tifa hat ihm Feuer unter dem Hintern gemacht.”
“Verstehe. Ach ja, das sogenannte ‘Schwache Geschlecht’ ist am Ende doch immer stärker.”
___________________________
So, basically, it said that Cloud is living at Tifas bar. Also, the aspect of Cid talking about “women wearing the pants (in a relationship)” is absent completely. Therefore, it is highly obvious that SE didn’t intend the line to be as you wished for.

You might also like to know that Aerith calls Cloud a “Geliebter” in the German version; “Geliebter” is the strongest expression of loving someone romantically – there is no word that would describe greater feelings of love.
This doesn’t mean anything about Clouds feelings, but I thought you would like to know if it comes to Zerith points. So, the whole discussion if koibito (koi bito) means romantic love or not is not needed anymore, at least not in this case.
I think it was already discussed that Tifa can also be a sweetheart, too.

Kudos to you, SoS. You’ve again made another great FAQ for the FFVII fandom. Just to let you know, I’ve already known you and has been following your essays way back at your active GameFAQ days. Not that you know me. But don’t worry, lad… I’m not an internet stalker. I just happen to appreciate your essays.

^^ I don’t know why you posted this link, but it’s full of BS. They merely give empty rebuttal and no reliable arguments or facts. Please. It doesn’t count.

SoS, thanks so much for the insights. You might be a CloTi, but this article gives enough perspectives and explanation for the fact that Cloud is Indeed with Tifa.

Would you please add some details from Dissidia 012? Now that it’s already out there and provides some more events of Cloud and Tifa.

Thank you. You rock, SoS! XD

oh and btw nice analysis