This is just splitting hairs, and it ultimately does not matter in the grand scheme of things narratively, but I am going to have to disagree about Cloud having any romantic feelings for Aerith in the ReTrilogy. I could buy the argument in the OG, and even Remake if you squint, but Rebirth has killed that notion for me entirely.
(Honestly, FFX gives you more of an opportunity to have Tidus show explicit romantic interest in Lulu/Rikku than ReTrilogy lets you have Cloud show romantic interest in Aerith. But I do think choosing those options in FFX cheapens Tidus' relationship with Yuna a bit, so I can see why they've removed the choice in Remake/Rebirth).
I have a hard time interpreting anything Cloud does for Aerith in Rebirth as romantic within the context of the entire scene/game. Take the interlocking hands on the GS date -- when I first saw the leak out of context, I thought it could be interpreted as romantic (I mean not more romantic than a kiss obviously, lmao), but within the context of the entire scene, not so much. The date starts with Aerith patting the spot next to her, and Cloud not only chooses not to sit there but actually moves even farther away from where he had originally intended to sit. He is very clearly drawing a line about where his relationship with her stands. Are we supposed to believe he suddenly falls in love with her in the span of 10 minutes after she talks about her Zack? Or is this action not perfectly in line with the actions of someone who has been shown to comfort a friend when she is in need? This is essentially the same beat as Evergreen Park in Remake, Cloud is awkward when Aerith tries to make things intimate, but opens up/comforts her when she gets sad about Zack.
As for the Ch. 14 church scene, the affection-system influenced dialogue option isn't what's important here. That's about whether Cloud wants to spend more time with Aerith -- and of course he does. (Obviously the fact that 'nakama' is even an option should be telling). It's how Cloud reacts after Aerith tells him she likes him (but isn't sure what type of like it is). As always, the moment she makes things romantic, he deflects.
But really the final nail in the coffin is the very end of Rebirth, outside of the Tiny Bronco. It's a nice callback to their first farewell in Remake (but again telling that their dynamic after 24 hrs together vs. a couple of weeks together is the same), but also the most nakama-coded goodbye possible? It's literally 'You take care of Sephiroth, and I'll take care of Meteor. Seeya later, pal.' I mean Orpheus and Eurydice this is not, lol.
I think the ReTrilogy goes out of its way to show that while Cloud loves and cherishes Aerith deeply, his feelings for her are not romantic. The devs are trying to minimize the number of people who will come away from this game viewing this relationship in a romantic light. Obviously, existing CA shippers will have moments they'll enjoy, but I'm talking about new or "neutral" fans.
With Remake, I thought it was pretty clear they were already killing the LTD dead with how many new CT moments they added and how many CA moments were removed (especially ones where Cloud shows a romantic interest in Aerith). That being said, for people who hadn't played the OG, I could see how CA could win some new converts. Ch. 8 and 9 are almost exclusively devoted to their relationship, and there's a natural progression/development to it. They go from strangers to friends, and it's not surprising that people could expect that to grow into something more.
The thing is, that progression entirely stalls in Rebirth. They're pretty much stuck in the same gear the entire game. Their scenes together are either Aerith trying to make things romantic/more intimate (mostly jokingly) while Cloud is uncomfortable/draws a line, or Aerith needing comfort and Cloud being a good friend. Sometimes the venn diagram overlaps like on the Water Tower in Ch. 11 and the Ch. 12 GS date. Compare the Clock Tower/Tunnel in Ch. 2 with the Water Tower in Ch. 11, or the beach in Costa del Sol in Ch. 6 and the Cosmo Canyon speech in Ch. 10; these are essentially the exact same beats, despite dozens of hours of gameplay/story in between.
Which is inevitable because these scenes simply reiterate a dynamic we already know. They do not deepen or transform their relationship, nor do they conclude in a way that is meant to leave the player wanting more. This is not a romance they want you to invest in, which is not to say these scenes are unimportant. They still reveal much about each character as individuals, especially Aerith.
Such is not the case for Cloud and Tifa's relationship. Every major scene they share together ends in an ellipsis. The tension after their fight in Kalm is so thick that the entire party comments on it; their conversation in Junon ends inconclusively with Cloud promising they'll talk it all out another time (and then cut to him doing sit-ups in his own room to prepare); and of course, their conversation/almost kiss in Gongaga is interrupted by Yuffie and Cait Sith. Even after their GS date, they're unable to look each other in the eyes, to say nothing of discussing what it means for them.
Rebirth wants us to get invested in this relationship, wants us to want to see what happens next, as this is the relationship that will be driving the narrative in Part 3. (It also did most of the heavy lifting for at least half of Rebirth itself).
Similarily, Rebirth has been teasing/delaying the inevitable Zerith reunion the entire game. Rebirth!Zack is just so deeply likeable, and his main purpose is trying to save/reunite with Aerith. The game wants you to want him to succeed.
Aerith in the OG has one of the most tragic fates of all time. Not only is her life cut short, but by the end of the game, it's also clear that her love for the protagonist was unrequited in the most spectacular of ways. Not only does she never get a chance to know the real Cloud, but it turns out the real Cloud's entire identity revolves around another woman. She not only loses her life but also "loses" the man.
So it's inevitable that people would be drawn to the idea that Cloud could have ended up with Aerith if she hadn't died, if only so her fate wouldn't be so damn sad.
ReTrilogy (and the Compilation) doesn't change Aerith's fate but it helps us recontextualize her character and her relationships. It's not that her love for Cloud is unrequited. It's that said "love" is actually an emanation of her very requited love for Zack. So requited that he's literally trying to cheat death and traverse across multiple universes to find a way back to her.
As for Cloud, it could not be more obvious how much he loves Tifa and Zack. He'd never pursue a relationship with Aerith in any universe where the two of them exist.
), about their memories as kids. I feel very much that sense of him relying on those moments to believe that he is "Cloud of Nibelheim", that he very much needs those to continue to believe in himself.
. I also don't imagine anyone besides the actual Aerith enjoyers in that side will bother to read her side of the book either.
