Cloud Strife:
“Here I met a Flower Girl.
She’s a girl with impressive eyes.
She’s around my age, or elder by one or two years.
But the innocent radiance in her eyes simply makes her suddenly look younger.
Aerith Gainsborough: ”Excuse me, what happened?”
She asked me the question, and then I bought a flower from her, which is rare in Midgar.
Maybe she’s pleased that the flower was sold, because the worried look on her face had vanished.
If this smile costs only one gil, it is a good purchase.”
~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
Becoming a Bodyguard for the Price of a Romantic Date:
This is the typical beginning of a classic love story: love at first sight and the hero protecting his heroine [in exchange for a romantic date, nonetheless!]. Afterwards, Cloud and Aerith start developing chemistry together, with Cloud laughing for the first and only time in the game with Aerith. She even convinces Cloud to dress up like a girl!
Before this flashback, Cloud thought Aerith’s smile was a “good purchase” and her eyes were “impressive.” He left their initial meeting with a “mysterious feeling”. Shortly after, he agreed to be Aerith’s bodyguard for the price of a romantic date. All of these moments are what triggered Cloud into this flashback. This was no coincidence.
While Cloud is being taken care of in Aerith’s house, Square Enix decides to throw in a flashback where Cloud’s Mother talks about having an older girlfriend that will take care of him — two things Aerith qualifies under. Cloud wasn’t interested in this until he met the exact woman described by his Mother: Aerith Gainsborough.
“Date in the Park: In Scene 04-10, Zack and Aerith have a date in Green Park in the sector 6 slum. An identical situation is seen in “Final Fantasy VII” as well, which features a scene of Cloud and Aerith on a date in the same park.”
~Crisis Core Ultimania; Square Enix
Cloud and Aerith discuss romantic relationships while on their first of two dates, setting them up as star-crossed lovers.
Hoping for Mutual Romance:
“Marlene is a sharp girl - Even though she’s only 4 years old, Marlene is perceptive and well attuned to the woman mind. The scene where she ascertains that Aerith has favor for Cloud and tells him so, then says “I won’t tell Tifa!” demonstrates this grownup behavior.”
~Final Fantasy VII 25th Anniversary Ultimania, Square Enix
In order for Marlene to say “I won’t tell Tifa,” Cloud is required to say he “hopes” Aerith likes him. Therefore, this is the canon version of this scene:
Marlene: “Guess what? Guess what? Aerith was asking me lots of questions. Like what kind of person Cloud is. I bet she likes you, Cloud!”
Cloud: “Let’s hope so.”
Marlene: “I won’t tell Tifa.”
Exclusive World Together:
“The thing which she is unable to hide in her irritation towards Cloud is the fact that he isn’t merely dragging the past around, but because that reason might perhaps be related to Aerith.
Final Fantasy VII: Seeing Cloud and Aerith developing their world together before her eyes, she inadvertently lets slip her peevish feelings.”
~Tifa’s character profile; 10th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix
Cloud vows to save Aerith from the Shinra headquarters "by all means.”
Once inside, Cloud and Aerith share a romantic exchange. Aerith, very flirtatiously says, “I knew that Cloud would come for me.” Cloud responds with, “Hey, I’m your bodyguard, right?”
Cloud references back to the conversation he and Aerith had in her Church, when Aerith promised Cloud a romantic date in return for his protection.
Aerith picks up on Cloud’s flirtation and responds with, “The deal was for one date, right?”
Cloud and Aerith were very obviously flirting back-and-forth. If Tifa hadn’t been in the jail cell with Cloud, the flirtatious banter between Cloud and Aerith would have most certainly continued. However, because Tifa was in the same room as Cloud, she picks up on this flirtation, which is why she interrupts with, “…………oh, I get it.” and says, “EXCUSE me.”
The mutual romance in this scene is so obvious, even Tifa can’t deny it, which is why she let’s slip her “peevish feelings.”
Classic Romantic Confession:
Having a character accidentally express feelings for another, and then backtrack from their slip-up, is a common literary device to show romantic attraction from one character to another. Square Enix is using a classic romantic trope during this scene. Cloud’s dialogue in Cosmo Canyon is a subtle (yet obvious) way to show Cloud is falling in love with Aerith.
The Cloud x Aerith Gold Saucer date is confirmed as canon within the compilation:
”#111: The Planet’s largest amusement park is run by Dio. Cloud and company visit this place many times in their battle. They meet Cait Sith here. A promised date that ends in a magical night. In the city of desire that floats above the sands, the light memory of the two people is asleep even now…Aerith: “I think I must have seen him again, in you… But you’re different. Things are different… Cloud… I’m searching for you…”
~Final Fantasy Art Collection; Square Enix
“In Aerith’s case, if you play the game normally, the partner that generally comes will be Aerith.”
~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
“Oh, Cloud…I enjoyed our date at the Gold Saucer. The view from the gondola that night was really beautiful. I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget you, Cloud…”
~Aerith; Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
Cloud doesn’t date Tifa unless the player chooses to have him do so. In order to get the date with Tifa, the player has to play the game in a way that isn’t considered “normal.”
During this canon date, Aerith begins to realize she loves Cloud not only for who he is rather than for who he initially reminded her of, but that she actually loves Cloud more than Zack:
“Although in the beginning Aerith felt close to Cloud because he behaves like Zack, her interest in Cloud himself grows and she is attracted to him.”
~Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega, Square Enix
“At first when I met Cloud, I believed he was similar to Zack. Little actions, the way he spoke… his kindness. But Cloud is Cloud. I, now undoubtedly, love Cloud much more than Zack.”
~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
Cloud and Aerith’s canon date is also pictured on Square Enix’s "For the One I Love” page:
“Through the long journeys, the love of the protagonists develop. Occasionally they become separated, but the two’s value to one another gives them the great strength to overcome whatever crisis may come.”
~Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania; “For the One I Love” page; Square Enix
"…the love of the protagonists develop.”
“…the two’s value to one another…”
Only the *pictured* and *canon* Cloud x Aerith date can be applied to Square Enix’s “For the One I Love” page.
“Looks good. You are perfect for each other!”
“Aerith’s star and Cloud’s star! They show a great future!” “Poor Tifa!” ~Cait Sith, Final Fantasy VII
“After solving the puzzle about Cait Sith’s replaceable body, he tells one last fortune of Cloud and Aerith’s affinity. Cait Sith’s lines, which seem to expect Cloud and Aerith’s wedding, now makes it more painful.”
~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled, Square Enix
Cait Sith’s wedding prediction becomes “more painful” after Aerith’s death. The only way Aerith’s death would make a wedding prediction “more painful” is if Cloud and Aerith had a mutual romance that would have led to a marriage had she not died.
“It was the sound of Cloud’s heart cracking. It was the cry of his heart that could never be healed of the grief he had towards Aerith’s death, the blame towards himself and the hatred he had for Sephiroth…”
~Maiden of the Planet; Square Enix
Cloud’s heart broke when Aerith died.
Despite Aerith’s eventual death, their love transcends traditional boundaries. Cloud associates his Promised Land [his supreme happiness] with Aerith at the end of Final Fantasy VII, and they will one day reunite in the lifestream.
“An answer from the planet… the Promised Land… I think I can meet her… there…"
~Cloud Strife; Final Fantasy VII
Cloud x Aerith has been canon since 1997.
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