I've just read through pages and pages of comments and a few things were still NEVER addressed, or at least not properly.
Since no one is disputing Aerith's feelings towards Cloud, could any "Clerith as Canon" supporter show me where CLOUD confirms/acknowledges his feelings toward her? I've asked before and been given random interpretations as "facts" but I want some creator or actual script statement. The fact that Cloud and Aerith set each others destinies in motion isn't exactly romance. She dies because she travels with them and it's because of her capture that he raids ShinRa tower and discovers Sephiroth is alive. Who's he chasing in the game? Oh...that's right. WHY is he chasing him...? NOT for Aerith, she's alive at this point, remember?
Y'know, if the whole of compilation is taken into account, then we have to acknowledge that Tifa is the reason Cloud joined Shinra, and the reason he wanted to be a SOLDIER... and the reason behind his cross dressing panty fetish...but that's not anything like setting a destiny in motion...
Also, the ridiculous notion that Koibito in reference to Tifa can mean anyone but Cloud because his name isn't explicitly stated, I counter with: NOWHERE in CoLW is Aerith's name mentioned, and therefore I infer that "the woman"/Ancient in question is really Ilfana and it is her that thinks of Cloud as her beloved. Seriously. Prove me wrong based on the logic used to remove Cloud from Tifa in the aforementioned arguments.
This comment:
Actually, this is about beliefs, because at no time has SE said "Cloud loves Tifa", and so much of Cloti evidence, and yes much Clerith evidence too, is based on taking something they have said and interpreting it in their own personal view. And to go with beliefs, here's some facts - are there things that can be interpreted as Cloti? Yes. Are there things that can be interpreted as Clerith? Yes. Has SE come right out and stated which side is right? No.
No, not about beliefs. About fact. Did Squall and Rinoa need a press release? No. Why? Because in context SE HAS made a declaration. Yes. They really have. "I knew one thing for sure. Cloud would be with Tifa. Everyone would be where they belong." Now, that quote alone is solid, but take into the context of what Nojima is speaking about and it's bulletproof. He says this in regards to coming up with a sequel to FFVII--before AC became a full blown thing. His INITIAL absolute certainty for the story was what? Oh, yes, that CLOUD would be with TIFA--no matter what else, no matter what he came up with from that point on, THAT was certain.
There is nothing "Clerith as Canon" shippers have that even comes close to the solid foundations Cloti is built from. Fanon is fine, enjoy it, but please stop trying to make Clerith the intended love story of FFVII. It's not. It never was.
Edit: The end of AC when Cloud supposedly "smiles" at Aerith...they are gone by that point. White light, vanished, no longer there. So he's not smiling
at Aerith or Zack, at all. He's just content.