BlankBeat
Pro Adventurer
Aerith is the "promised" date. Aerith starts off with the most love points. Aerith is given predictions by Cait Sith.It's really interesting how you always put so much weight in the "normally occurring" optional date scene that three other characters can get ( don't forget poot Barret and Yuffie, their dates are fun, too) because it serves the narrative while ignoring a variable in a scene that also serves the narrative and the plot in general. Even more when the HA HW scene has been proved to be the canon one from the two versions, but you know all that already, right?!
Barret and Yuffie aren't in the officially established love triangle.
Yes -- you can optionally rekindle a childhood romance with Tifa. Doesn't change the fact that Cloud wants it to be Aerith at the very end of the game when she reaches down from the lifestream.
I've always believed Cloud had feelings for Tifa as a kid, and that you can optionally rekindle them through a variable scene.Also, the HW scene is where they confirm their feelings, but their feelings are revealed in the lifestream scene, which is a non-optional and non-variable scene
Doesn't change the fact that Cloud's preference when both ladies are alive is obviously Aerith. Even in death, Cloud's preference is Aerith due to him always seeking her and Tifa being jealous.
At the end of the game, Cloud wants it to be Aerith reaching down to him. That's just bloody obvious.
So sure -- he can end up with Tifa (if you choose to view it that way). But his preference has always been Aerith.