(edit)Oh noez, I late again.
It's true that Cloud decided to join SOLDIER to impress Tifa, as well. But don't forget that Cloud idolize Sephiroth and wanted to be a hero, too.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Cloud want to be like Sephy because he was the strongest dood EVAR? If the boy wants to be strong enough to protect a girl, it makes sense that he'd pick
The Great Sephiroth aka THE MAN.
But anyway, when Tifa is inside Cloud's spirit world, and the question of why he wanted to join SOLDIER came up, the only reason Cloud felt was important was that he wanted to be noticed. By Tifa("Who? You know who. YOU, that's who.).
And besides, the promise at the well was made because Tifa requested it.
The fact that a great deal of Cloud revolves around his sealed up secret wishes for Tifa is supposed to be a secret until late in the game. It's downplayed. That's why the well scene was put together the way it was, to make it seem like he could have been reluctant to make the promise with Tifa.
But, the important thing is that Cloud wanted to be Tifa's hero
before she asked him to make that promise. After viewing the goings on in the Lifestream, looking back on that scene makes it easy to see the boy was just surprised. The girl he has a huge thing for, the girl he thinks must hate him, is asking him to be exactly what he wants to be -her hero.
And now we know that Tifa NEVER knew Cloud as kids except to be the boy that would "hang around".
And Aerith acts the way she does around Cloud in VII because of her feelings for Zack.
And Tifa and Cloud weren't, as children, as close as we are initially led to believe, but that doesn't mean that they were complete strangers. And Tifa liked him since way back in the day.
Oh and one more thing. Cloud doesn't ONLY listen to Tifa, he also listens to Aerith. Whose idea was for Cloud to cross-dress, so he could save Tifa - Aerith. If it weren't for that suggestion then Cloud would have had more trouble saving her from Don Corneo.
Cloud wanted to save Tifa. Wasn't he just gonna bust in and bump heads?
But, who said Cloud completely ignores everyone but Tifa? Guy's own mouth said that Tifa counts most is all.
Oh and one more thing. How could Cloud open up to Aerith if he had amnesia? How is a person suppose to talk about themselves when they don't remember much about themselve and have a new persona mixed with their memories? It would be impossible to, no? But Aerith knew that Cloud wasn't being himself but hiding behind a mask and we can find that proof in the date of the Golden Sauser where she says, "I want to meet the real you." Also, Cloud has shown of signs of interest in Aerith. At the Gongaga scene where Aerith finds out about Zack's death from his parents. She runs out of the house and Cloud worries about her. If you get him to follow her, he talks to her and figures out that she was Zack's girlfriend. One of the responses that you can give is "...jealous." So Cloud WAS jealous about Aerith and Zack's relationship. Also, the part where Aerith was kidnapped, Marlene tells Cloud that Aerith was asking a lot of questions about him and she points out, "She likes you." You ALSO have the choice to pick, "I hope so." At the part where Aerith figures out that she's the only Cetra left, Cloud comforts her and says, "But I-....we're here for you." Orginally Cloud wanted to say "I", but decided against it and used "we" quickly. Why would he do that? This proves that he does have feelings for her that are more than just friends.
Optional stuff? You also have the option to call Aerith "the slum drunk" and tell her that you don't think much of her.
And there are plenty sweet and outright (mucho)flirtatious things to say to Tifa, but I don't remember having the option to be as terrible to Tifa as you can be to Aerith.
But yeah, that's optional. Just a question, when did Cloud ever get "close" to Aerith when he wasn't jacked up? And you can say that he never got the chance to, but who fixed it up that way? SE, y'knowz? Doesn't seem to be a priority to them.
Oh and the novella "On a Way to a Smile". Remember the part that Cloud finds Denzel in the church and takes him back to the bar. Tifa asks about the kid and Cloud says, "Aerith brought him to me." Why would Cloud say that? Wouldn't it be normal yo say, "Aerith brought him to us." IF Cloud and Tifa were really a couple. That just proves that Cloud and Tifa are just friends.
Why would Cloud completely blow off his search for the Promised Land(Aerith), and instead ask Tifa to be with him always and shite?
Anyway, I don't think Cloud was thinking that Aerith brought Denzel to him because he was the child they should have had together. Pretty sure it was about penance, which explains why Cloud was focusing on himself there.
And the guy gives Tifa a purdy little smile that makes her think everything will turn out alright when she says that Aerith brought Denzel to them to keep safe.
Oh and by the way, Barret is also part of that family, too. So it isn't just Cloud, Tifa, Denzel, and Marlene. We just don't see him because he travels around the world looking for oil or what not.
Uh-huh. There are quite a few quotes that exclude Barret from the family that "Cloud
and Tifa were forming in Edge".
[/has more cards up her sleeve]
I hope so, because this stuff is old. No offense, though, since a lot came from Devotion.
Even a n00b like me knows that.
, not "_____'s lover". It isn't used to imply reciprocated feelings.
More than anything. It's kinda insulting to the Japanese. And also my part of Japanese. 
