Tres answered this as well as I could. Cloud, especially in the Japanese text, doesn't really say he wants to go alone specifically. He says he thinks he can meet her there, not 'I'm going alone'. He doesn't even say anything about going specifically, only Tifa does.
But the *official* English translation has Cloud excluding Tifa *twice*. Tifa may invite herself, but that says nothing about how Cloud feels regarding Tifa's proposed involvement. All we know is what Cloud says directly, and he never includes Tifa in his desire to re-unite with Aerith.
As I have stated (and will defend) -- Tifa has invited herself before and Cloud has rejected her presence (particularly when it pertains to Aerith). Cloud's exclusion of Tifa when it pertains specifically to Aerith is exactly why SE wrote an entire passage outlining Tifa's jealously over Cloud and Aerith's relationship.
There is no further character development after this point. Tifa has like 3-4 more lines, which consist of things like 'everyone's safe' and 'what's that?'. Why would they have Cloud say what you're suggesting (that he and he alone wants to go see Aerith), Tifa's final line of meaningful character dialogue... is to butt in and try to make herself part of something she's not a part of?
Are we supposed to pity Tifa here? Feel sorry for her because she just doesn't understand? Laugh at her for just not getting it? What is the purpose of this piece of character development that you're asserting here?
Throughout the game, Tifa has consistently played a supportive role for Cloud. This is yet another example of Tifa's desire to help and support Cloud in whatever his quest may be. Unfortunately, I think Cloud wants to meet Aerith without Tifa, even though Tifa wants to play a supportive role for Cloud -- a role she has played consistently throughout the game. In other words, despite Tifa's desire to assist and help Cloud (like she has done throughout the entire game), I think Cloud wants to do this alone.
As an example, Cloud visits Aerith's Church without telling or inviting Tifa. Only after Tifa finds out does Cloud say Tifa can go with him. However, Cloud initially decided to go without Tifa, which tells us he'd rather keep his connection with Aerith a private, personal thing.
Plus, Cloud directly says *HE* wants to reunite with Aerith in the Promised Land. He never includes Tifa in his statement. I understand Tifa wants to play a supportive role (like she has always done throughout the game), but as I said, unfortunately, I don't think Cloud wants Tifa involved in his relationship with Aerith.
That doesn't happen, no. In fact, he says the opposite. This is the text from the revised edition (page 77):
http://imgur.com/QYnXQdj
「教会へ行ったんだ」
「隠すつもりはなかった」
「隠してた」
「悪かった」
「ダメとは言ってないでしょ。でも今度はわたしも一緒に行く」
「うん」
"You went to the church."
"I didn't mean to hide it from you."
"But you did."
"Sorry."
"I didn't say you did anything wrong. But next time I'm going with you."
"Okay."
He shows agreement with what she says.
Cloud originally goes to the Church without Tifa because he wanted to go alone. Cloud never thinks to invite Tifa in the first place and decides to go without her, which tells us he'd rather keep his relationship with Aerith private. Of course Cloud feels bad when Tifa confronts him and he tells her she can join him the next time he goes. But the fact Cloud originally did not invite Tifa and went alone tells us how he really feels. If he wanted Tifa to go with him, he would have invited her to go in the first place.
Cloud wants to have a relationship with Aerith and doesn't want Tifa involved. Tifa realizes this, which is *EXACTLY WHY* she is jealous of their relationship in AC. Tifa isn't just mad Cloud is dragging around the past, but is mad that the reason might perhaps be, "related to Aerith".
Also -- Cloud goes to the Church without Tifa EVEN AFTER saying he'd take her with him. Actions speak louder than words. Cloud was obviously trying not to hurt Tifa's feelings and said she could go with him the next time he went. Unfortunately for Tifa, Cloud decided to go back to the Church without bringing Tifa (despite saying she could go with him the next time he went)
When it comes to Aerith, Cloud wants to have a relationship with her alone and without Tifa. I understand Tifa's nature is to want to be supportive, and she played a supportive role throughout the game, but this is not a situation that warrants Tifa's support. Cloud doesn't ask for it, and his actions tell us he doesn't want it. This leads Tifa to being jealous of Cloud and Aerith's connection, a connection she wishes she also had with Cloud.
How would you support this reading from the text? From anything related to FFVII, even? In the ending of FFVII, we have Tifa saying 'let's go meet [her]', presumably talking about Aerith. Again, this is what the writers chose to put in the finale of the story, what should be one of the most important parts.
So now not only are you saying that Tifa, after everything that has happened in FFVII, is not only inviting herself along when she is unwelcome (because this is about Cloud's love and he wants to go alone), but that she is talking about doing something that isn't even possible (meeting Aerith)?
Tifa has always played a supportive role to Cloud. She's probably the character that played the most supportive role to Cloud throughout the entire game. It's in her nature to want to support Cloud and his journey. That is what I believe was SE's intent for Tifa including herself in Cloud's desire to reunite with Aerith. Unfortunately, this is one area where Cloud does not want Tifa's support. Cloud directly says that *HE* (and he alone) wants to meet Aerith in the Promised Land. Cloud also visits Aerith's Church without telling or inviting Tifa. When Tifa discovers Cloud had been visiting Aerith's Church alone and without her, it brings out her complicated feelings toward Aerith who had built up a 'special bond' with Cloud that was different from her own. Tifa realizes that although she wants to help Cloud with his issues pertaining to the past, one of the issues Cloud does not seek her help is with Aerith. This not only applies to Cloud visiting Aerith's Church, but it also applies to Cloud's desire to find the Promised Land and reunite with Aerith.
http://imgur.com/gyegX8D
P.70 of the Reunion Files
僕の中では、とりあえずクラウドとティファは一緒にいるんだろうな、と思ってました。とにかくみんな帰るべきところに帰って暮らしてる。
Inside, I felt one thing was for sure: Cloud and Tifa would be together. Everybody would be living back home where they belonged.
We don't know what question Nojima was responding to -- maybe someone asked Nojima about where Cloud and Tifa "belonged" since Nibelheim and Midgar had been destroyed. Does anyone know what prompted this response?
Now...
Barret still had a hometown but Cloud and Tifa did not. They visited Nibelheim at the beginning of CoT, but they didn't want to stay because both of them said it brought back horrible memories. In contrast, Cid had Rocket Town. RedXIII had Cosmo Canyon. Yuffie had Wutai. Vincent decided to leave his coffin. And Barret had his hometown, too.
The thing is -- SE had Barret go with Cloud and Tifa. This showed us that Barret and Marlene were welcome to go along with Cloud and Tifa. Barret helped them build a house in Edge. Barret was actually with them for several months before he took off. So that's where Nojima put Barret -- *WITH* Cloud and Tifa, not in his hometown like most of the others.
Why did Nojima put Barret with Cloud and Tifa? That's the question Cloti's should be asking instead of saying why Nojima didn't mention Barret when he talked about Cloud and Tifa belonging together. Nojima actually put Barret with Cloud and Tifa in the writing, which is more significant than his actual statement. In fact, Barret rebuilt Seventh Heaven and was the first to call them a "family" in CoT.
So why, despite Nojima's statement, did he put Barret alongside Cloud and Tifa in the writing? Why, despite Noijima's statement, did he have Marlene invite Cloud into *HER* family? Why, despite Nojima's statement, did he include Barret in the formation and creation of this family?
It seems, despite his quote, Nojima put all three of them [Cloud, Tifa, *AND* Barret] together.
Plus, judging by DoC, Barret is back. He was never meant to be away permanently.
Why do you keep bringing up Barret being there as being some kind of point against Cloud and Tifa's being together meaning anything, then? As if Barret's very presences means something negative to the notion of Cloud staying with Tifa had some kind of significance.
I bring up Barret to show that the living situation and the family were not formed out of Cloud and Tifa's (assumed) romance. Therefore, it cannot be used as evidence to support the position that Cloud and Tifa are in a romantic relationship.
Another reason I don't believe Cloud and Tifa are in a romantic relationship is because CoT says that Cloud took less jobs and seemed to smile more after Denzel arrived:
"Tifa wondered if they became a real family after Denzel appeared. Cloud was clearly taking less jobs. At night, he would always make sure he had time to spend with the children. The silly little conversations he had with Tifa were also back." ~Case of Tifa-Revised
Tifa then wonders if they became a "real family" after a child Cloud believed Aerith brought to him arrived. However, it is Cloud's belief in Aerith's involvement that caused him to bring Denzel home and thus his behavior changed. Without Cloud's belief in Aerith's involvement with Denzel, he would have continued his pattern of frequently living in Aerith's Church and being unhappy. But when Cloud thought he had a direct connection with Aerith through Denzel, it was no longer necessary for him to frequent the Church as much, nor be as unhappy.
Plus, before adopting Denzel, Cloud and Tifa argued and fought all the time. They never smiled, laughed, or acted like a couple. Cloud was also shown ignoring Tifa's calls (dozens of them) and visiting/staying at the Church frequently. All of that got a little better only when Denzel (a child Cloud believed Aerith brought to him) came into the picture. Cloud stuck around for Denzel... because he thought he could save this child's life, a child he personally viewed as a connection between him and Aerith.
As much as Cloud enjoyed staying at Aerith's church, it's not ideal for a sick child. So Cloud stayed at Seventh Heaven because it was a place for Denzel to stay and for him to be close to the child he believed Aerith brought him. Hence Tifa and Cloud would have to be in the same location. But it had nothing to do with Tifa and everything to do with Aerith.
Another question to ponder is: what was different between Denzel and Marlene? Why did everything change for the better only once Denzel came into the picture? Answer: Because Cloud associated Denzel with Aerith, and doesn't associate Marlene with Aerith. Just the idea of this child being brought to him by Aerith made Cloud take less jobs and spend more time at Seventh Heaven. Before adopting Denzel, Tifa wasn't incentive enough for Cloud to be happy at Seventh Heaven. Only Denzel, because of his connection to Aerith, was incentive enough for Cloud to stay at Seventh Heaven and become happier.
And I know Tifa also believes Aerith brought Denzel to her, too. But Tifa grasps on to Cloud's notion because she's desperate for a "family" life with him. Tifa inserts herself onto Cloud's belief, and doesn't come up with it on her own. Plus, it doesn't matter what Tifa believed. Cloud believed Aerith brought Denzel to HIM, not Tifa or "them". Cloud still only started to be happy and stick around more once Denzel showed up, and Denzel represents a connection to Aerith. Tifa and Marlene weren't able to do this...only Aerith was about to do this through the form of Denzel.
And if you say it's not confirmed that Aerith brought Denzel to Cloud, it doesn't matter. Cloud's belief --whether true or not-- is that Aerith brought Denzel to him, and this BELIEF is the cause of Cloud's change in behavior.
You've never actually read what I think the progression of their relationship was, evidently.
I don't think it 'lasted' as in that it progressed without a hitch, but that wasn't the end of the story. Given that comments from the staff talk about how they were always planning on going back to the moody Cloud fans were familiar with, things were always going to be rough because it was written around the notion that Cloud would be depressed for some reason.
I think they started a relationship (the start of OTWTAS) which ran into problems (latter part of OTWTAS and start of AC), which was later resolved (end of AC). From the end of AC and the end of The Kids Are Alright, things are positive. That's where I think they relationship can start proper. We have no idea what story after AC involves (and it's stupid to draw conclusions from DC given the minor level of story most of the original cast).
All we know is that Cloud returns to living with Tifa after AC and during DC, given:
a) Tifa's profile in the Crisis Core Ultimania, which states that they are living together during DC (the statement about them living together following on from a previous statement about them communicating their (intimate) feelings):
http://thelifestream.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ddssd9.jpg
b) The keyword entry for Cloud and Tifa, which states that Cloud returns to living with Tifa after having left when he contracted Geostigma:
http://thelifestream.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ddssd24.jpg
So we have Cloud, returning to live with Tifa (who he has mutually expressed romantic feelings for), with his family where he was happy (stated multiply times in various sources). In The Kids Are Alright he compares himself and his family to another couple. So I think AC was the story of Cloud working through his problems, after which he make a better start at a relationship with Tifa.
That has a lot more backing it up than some of your previous assertions, like how Cloud would have 'exclusively lived in the church to be with Aerith if it wasn't for the business'.
Yes. Cloud goes back to living at Seventh Heaven. But, judging by DoC, Barret is back living at Seventh Heaven with them. He was never meant to be away permanently. And since we never see where Cloud sleeps, why cannot it be assumed he goes back to sleeping in his room in his bed?
You have yet to provide any definitive romantic moment between Cloud and Tifa. Until you do so, you cannot definitively claim they are in a relationship (especially because Nojima says there's a valid premise that things "didn't go well" between them). Nojima is also uncertain the children will even be enough to help them sort through their problems. Obviously, it is unknown if Cloud and TIfa have been able to sort through their problems. Until we know that, it is impossible to know if they are in a relationship.
Tidus and Yuna's story, despite what people at Square are saying about not having plans for further FFX projects, is now unfinished.
The point behind bringing up Tidus and Yuna is that this is an example of an established couple written by Nojima where they have problems in their relationship. That for Nojima, 'being a couple' doesn't necessarily mean that he isn't going to write them with some big problems. If he can do that for Tidus and Yuna, one of the most iconic FF couples, it's not a stretch of the imagination to think he can do the same for Cloud and Tifa.
But with Tidus and Yuna, they are already established as a couple because they have an undeniable scene of romance *AND* a romantic description in a relationship chart by SE. Cloud and Tifa, unfortunately, do not have either of those things.
Cloud has no reason to live with Tifa if he didn't want to. He's a fictional character, he could live anywhere the creators want. He didn't need to run a business, in that specific location, in that specific situation. He was put there for a reason. Which was, apparently, that Nojima thought that Cloud and Tifa should be together because everyone should be where they belong.
As I said above -- Nojima puts Barret with Cloud and TIfa despite his quote. DoC also suggests that Barret is back living with them. And regardless, Barret was never meant to be away permanently. So I guess the actual story and writing shows us that all three of them are meant to be together.
Look at the quote you're constantly bringing up. It's talking about Episode Tifa, and the premise or precondition that things wouldn't be going well. Again, AC was made with the image of a sullen Cloud in mind. Were things supposed to go perfectly in the novel and then suddenly, AC comes along and Cloud is suddenly sad? You're taking it out of the context it was originally said in and using it as if it applies to all of time or something.
Where is the evidence Cloud and Tifa's problems were solved, though? Until we see if their problems have been solved, it remains uncertain if they are in a relationship.
You picked a bunch of points from when the narrative's conflict was at its worst (Tifa not knowing if Cloud loves her, not thinking they're a 'real family') or just things that don't say much about their relationship (Nojima and Square's failure to accurately show or describe where Tifa and Cloud sleep) and just kind of stopped there.
Nojima isn't sure if the kids will be enough for Cloud and Tifa to sort through their problems. Where is the evidence that these problems were solved?
--------------------
To be fair (i.e. accurate), he doesn't say "I" or "we." He doesn't use any pronouns there. What the Ultimania Omega does specify, though, is that this was a conversation between Cloud and Tifa. He isn't excluding her.
It's not like he had an epiphany, said it at the air, and then Tifa invited herself against his wishes. He's telling her they can see Aerith again.
Besides, do you really think he was trying to say "Hey, our dead friend that we both loved -- I know how to see her again. But you can't come"?
For the record, Tifa didn't use any pronouns in her response either. Obviously it makes more sense that she is saying "we," though, just like it makes more sense that Cloud is inviting Tifa rather than excluding her.
Not that any of this matters. The book says they were talking about seeing Aerith/their dead loved ones again when/if they died, so they're really just finding comfort in these final moments in case Meteor isn't stopped. So, that in mind, it's not like Cloud could tell Tifa she wasn't invited even if he was inexplicably being an asshole there.
The *official* translation has Cloud saying twice:
"I" can meet her...
"I" can find her. Two *official* translations say Cloud excluded Tifa.
You didn't answer hito's question, though: Why would Tifa be written to have this line here at the end of their game, after all their character development and character exploration, if Cloud didn't mean for her to go too?
I answered this question in depth above. Please read.
I have to disagree given that the place/moment officially described as Cloud's Promised Land has him surrounded by all the people he loves. There was a lot more described there that went into making his Promised Land than just Aerith -- it was his friends and family being with him, forgiving himself, Edge's suffering children being healed and knowing Aerith and Zack were okay.
The place where he awakens---
That is Cloud's Promised Land
As he sleeps, Cloud hears two voices. The voices of two people very dear to him, who are no longer with him. Playfully and kindly, they give him a message: he doesn't belong here yet.
When he awakes, there was his friends. There were the children, freed from their fatal illness. Tifa and Marlene, and Denzel asking for Cloud to heal his Geostigma-- his family were waiting. Engulfed in celebration, he realises where he is meant to live. He realises that he was able to forgive himself.
And when he turns around--- "she" is starting to leave. Together with the friend who had given Cloud his life. Cloud no longer has to suffer in loneliness... And so they too go back to where they belong.
Back to the current of life flowing around the planet---.
It is explicitly stated that the "place" where Cloud awakens is his Promised Land. Cloud's Promised Land is with Aerith in her Church, because that is the "place" he awakens. Cloud will eventually be with Aerith in the lifestream, but he doesn't belong in the lifestream quite "yet" (according to the quote).
Cloud's Promised Land is ultimately wherever he can be with Aerith.
So although Cloud realizes he belongs with his family and friends while alive [because he doesn't belong in the lifestream "yet"] he recognizes where he can achieve his Promised Land in the meantime -- and that's Aerith's Church -- the place where Cloud awakens -- the place he shares a spiritual connection with Aerith.
He doesn't. He smiled without speaking when she said that.
EDIT: Correction incoming -- see hito's post below.
And I responded to his post. Please read my response above.
I don't think hito's point was that a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship developed and lasted. Actually, has anybody said it didn't fall apart?
So you agree Cloud and Tifa's relationship fell apart?
Everyone knows it's not definitive that a relationship lasted between them. No one has said otherwise.
Nojima even said straight up that they may not work out. But he also said maybe they will. That's it.
So if Nojima says that Cloud and Tifa's relationship status is uncertain and ambiguous, even suggesting things "didn't work out" between them, why do numerous Cloti's paint a false picture of Cloud and Tifa's romance?
I mean, Christ Jesus, X-2 had as happy an ending as any Final Fantasy -- then Tidus gets blown up two days later. And even though he gets resurrected again, he and Yuna break up. Life goes on, and that's all Cloud and Tifa -- and any of us -- get.
...but we never had to assume Tidus and Yuna were in a relationship in the first place because they have an undeniable example of physical romantic behavior, in addition to a romantic description by SE in a relationship chart.
He seems quite content to roll with a lot of things really 
