It depends on who you ask. C/A shippers would probably tell you he means Aerith specifically (which is also what the English translation implies), but
@Ryeleigh is correct in saying that the OG Japanese script does not use a specific pronoun. Here’s a tumblr thread of one person discussing the implications of the line (They back up a lot of their points with evidence from guidebooks, ultimanias, and official material):
https://dutchdread.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F647488607324635136
Hi. i usually just lurk but I'm KageSakura (CA shipper but multishipper for context) who posted some of that info so I just wanted to add my two cents.
Yeah exactly this.
I think the main problem I see with this line is there are CA's will fight tooth and nail for it to be just about Aerith with the sentiment that Tifa is third wheeling. Which as pointed out doesn't make sense in context.
While some CT's will be adamant and have argued with me that it can't be about Aerith at ALL even though the Ultimania quote is literally right there lol. (It's a mistake or mistranslation!) Also no, that makes no sense in context either.
And if neither side can concede on either of these points that
1. Yes it IS about Aerith but not to the exclusion of everything and everyone else
2. and the context can be more than be romantic and more likely a nice callback to the truth of the PromisedLand being the place we reunite with our loved ones after death... With two people having a conversation about it....
We'll just always be an an impasse.
But I do think most people at least here from what I have seen hit the nail on the head and it's actually an amazing scene in context. One of my favorites.
I hope I make sense. There really is a lot of discourse about this line for all the wrong reasons I think.
*Back to lurking! Great thread you have here!