Here are the 9Β non-optional Cloud x Aerith moments:
Cloud Strife:
βHere I met a Flower Girl.
Sheβs a girl with impressive eyes.
Sheβs 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: βExcuse me, what happened?β
She asked me the question, and then I bought a flower from her, which is rare in Midgar.
Maybe sheβs 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.β
~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
Becoming a Bodyguard for the Price of a Romantic Date:
This is the typical beginning of a classicΒ 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 Aerithβs smile was a βgood purchaseβ and her eyes were βimpressive.βΒ He left their initial meeting with a βmysterious feeling.βΒ Shortly after, he agreed to be Aerithβs bodyguard for the price of a romantic date. All of these moments are what triggered Cloud into this flashback. This was no coincidence.Β
While Cloud is being taken care of in Aerithβs house, Square Enix decides to throw in a flashback where Cloudβs Mother talks about having an older girlfriend that will take care of him β two things Aerith qualifies under. Cloud wasnβt interested in this until he met the exact woman described by his Mother: Aerith Gainsborough.
βDate 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 βFFVIIβ as well, which features a scene of Cloud and Aerith on a date in the same park.βΒ ~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.Β
Creating an Exclusive World Together:
βThe thing which she is unable to hide in her irritation towards Cloud is the fact that he isnβt 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.β ~Tifaβs character profile; 10th Anniversary Ultimania; Square Enix
Cloud vows to save Aerith from the Shinra headquarters βby all meansβ.
Once inside, Cloud and Aerith share a romantic exchange. Aerith, very flirtatiously says, βI knew that Cloud would come for me.β Cloud responds with, βHey, Iβm your bodyguard, right?β
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 Cloudβs flirtation and responds with, βThe deal was for one date, right?β
Cloud and Aerith were very obviously flirting back-and-forth. If Tifa hadnβt 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, ββ¦β¦β¦β¦oh, I get it.βΒ and says, βEXCUSE me.βΒ The mutual romance in this scene is so obvious, even Tifa canβt deny it, which is why she letβs slip herΒ βpeevish feelings.βΒ
A 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. Cloudβs dialogue in Cosmo Canyon is a subtle (yet obvious) way to show Cloud is falling in love with Aerith.Β
βLooks good. You are perfect for each other!β
βAerithβs star and Cloudβs star! They show a great future!β βPoor Tifa!β ~Cait Sith, Final Fantasy VII
βAfter solving the puzzle about Cait Sithβs replaceable body, he tells one last fortune of Cloud and Aerithβs affinity. Cait Sithβs lines, which seem to expect Cloud and Aerithβs wedding, now makes it more painful.β ~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled, Square Enix
Cait Sithβs wedding prediction becomes βmore painfulβ after Aerithβs death. The only way Aerithβs death would make a wedding prediction βmore painfulβ is if Cloud and Aerith had a mutual romance that would have led to a marriage had she not died.
βIt was the sound of Cloudβs heart cracking. It was the cry of his heart that could never be healed of the grief he had towards Aerithβs death, the blame towards himself and the hatred he had for Sephirothβ¦βΒ ~Maiden of the Planet; Square Enix
Cloudβs heart broke when Aerith died.Β
Despite Aerithβs 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.
βI think Iβm beginning to understand. An answer from the planetβ¦the Promised Landβ¦I think I can meet herβ¦ thereβ¦β ~Cloud Strife; Final Fantasy VII
Here are the 2Β canon Cloud x Aerith moments:
Hoping for Mutual Romance:
βMarlene is a sharp girl - Even though sheβs 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 βI wonβt tell Tifa!β demonstrates this grownup behavior.β ~Final Fantasy VII, 25th Anniversary Ultimania, Square Enix
In order for Marlene to say βI wonβt tell Tifa,β Cloud is required to say he βhopesβ Aerith likes him. Therefore, this is the canon version of this scene:
Marlene: βGuess what? Guess what? Aerith was asking me lots of questions. Like what kind of person Cloud is. I bet she likes you, Cloud!β
Cloud: βLetβs hope so.β
Marlene: βI wonβt tell Tifa.β
The Cloud x Aerith Gold Saucer date is confirmed as canon within the compilation:
β#111: The Planetβs largest amusement park is run by Dio. Cloud and company visit this place many times in their battle. They meet Cait Sith here. A promisedΒ date [there is only one promised date in the game] 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 nowβ¦Aerith: βI think I must have seen him again, in youβ¦ But youβre different. Things are differentβ¦ No, Cloudβ¦ Iβm searching for youβ¦β ~Final Fantasy Art Collection; Square Enix
βIn Aerithβs case, if you play the game normally, the partner that generally comes will be Aerith.β ~Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
βOh, Cloudβ¦I enjoyed our date at the Gold Saucer. The view from the gondola that night was really beautiful. Iβll never forget it. Iβll never forget you, Cloudβ¦β ~Aerith; Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
Cloud doesnβt 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 isnβt considered βnormalβ.
During this canon date, Aerith realizes she loves Cloud for Cloud (rather than for who he initially reminded her of). And that she actually loves Cloud more than Zack:Β
βAlthough 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.β ~page 31, Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega, Square Enix
βAt first when I met Cloud, I believed he was similar to Zack. Little actions, the way he spokeβ¦ his kindness. But Cloud is Cloud. I, now undoubtedly, love Cloud much more than Zack.β
βAerithβs monologue in Gongaga; Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix
Cloud and Aerithβs canon date is also pictured on Square Enixβs βFor the One I Loveβ page:
βThrough the long journeys, the love of the protagonists develop. Occasionally they become separated, but the twoβs value to one another gives them the great strength to overcome whatever crisis may come.β ~Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania; βFor the One I Loveβ page; Square Enix
"β¦the love of the protagonists develop.β
ββ¦the twoβs value to one anotherβ¦β
Only the *pictured* and *canon* Cloud x Aerith date can be applied to Square Enixβs βFor the One I Loveβ page.
Square Enix recently named Cloud and AerithΒ Emperor and Empress in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade. I guess Cait Sithβs wedding prediction came true after-all ^.^
Cloud x Aerith: A Love Story
Dispelling the myth Cloud and Tifa are in a relationship post-FFVII
50 Reasons for Cloud x Aerith
Common Criticisms of Cloud x Aerith debunked
Aerith Gainsborough: The Ultimate Heroine