Friendly reminder that Aerith loves the real Cloud more than Zack:
1. “Cloud is the woman’s friend, lover (koibito/geliebter/amant)—-a symbol for something important, an existence that she must protect.” CASE OF LIFESTREAM: WHITE 2. “Although called my first love, that doesn’t mean that we (Zack & Aerith) became particularly intimate. I encountered him by chance as a flower vendor in Midgar. It was good for a little while, so I thought.” - DISMANTLED 3. ”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,“ - DISMANTLED 4. “Even though Aerith perceived that Cloud had lost sight of his true self, she still has great affection for him. As an Ancient, Aerith had planned to accomplish the mission. On the one hand, her last concern is Cloud.” -AERITH’S CHARACTER PROFILE, 10th ANNIVERSARY ULTIMANIA 5. “So you won’t have a breakdown..” Aerith appears in Cloud’s dream, and she seems to console him with such advice. This line can infer that Aerith has seen through to the essence of Cloud. -PG.156 FFVII ULTIMANIA OMEGA 6. “Although in the beginning, Aerith felt close to Cloud because he behaved like Zack, her interest in Cloud himself grows and she is attracted to him.” -PG.31 FFVII ULTIMANIA OMEGA 7. “Aerith was in even greater pain when she thought about Cloud. She also had good feelings towards him. At first, she thought he somehow had some similarities to her first love. Even so, his looks, voice and personality weren’t similar and he also made her think of him as a mysterious person… But it soon didn’t matter. She loved him much more than her first love. Cloud was her hero and he couldn’t get away from danger. She saw him as someone full of confidence, cool and had the impression that he would disappear in an instant if she took her eyes off him. She wanted to stay by his side forever if she could. She really wanted to.“ -MAIDEN OF THE PLANET 8. Aerith: “And that’s your bad point. You’re not simplistic and awkward like Cloud.” Zack: “Is that what you liked, Aerith?“ -MAIDEN OF THE PLANET 9. She was happy. She was happy that she now knew the real Cloud and was able to watch over him, even though it was just for a short while. -MAIDEN OF THE PLANET 10. ”First off, it bothered me how you looked exactly alike. Two completely different people, but look exactly the same. The way you walk, gesture… I think I must have seen him again, in you… But you’re different. Things are different…” - AERITH, FFVII DISC 1 11. “When Aerith thinks of Cloud and Zack’s similarities, she sees that the present Cloud is not the real Cloud. Her meaningful lines like, “I’m searching for you” and “I want to meet you” all mean that she has discovered the existence of the real Cloud, although he’s not aware of it himself” -PG 31, FFVII ULTIMANIA OMEGA
