Who is Cloud in love with?

[Skyblade]

I think the whole point behind saying "Cloud is in love with Aerith" is that had she not died, they would've been a couple. Cloud x Tifa is what happens in the end (hello deleted scene) but you know, hypothetically...

Hypothetically, this would have happened.

Aerith would have continued digging at the inconsistencies and problems with Cloud's psyche, trying to push him out of his Zack-Persona to reveal who the actual Cloud really is.

Upon Cloud's true self finally being revealed, she'd have been happy, acknowledge that he no longer needs her, and moved on.

And he would have wound up with Tifa anyway.


Aerith has no romantic feelings towards Cloud almost anywhere in the story. She sees him as a hurt child who needs comfort and fixing, or a puzzle to be solved, nothing more. If there's any romantic interest, it's because she sees Zack in him, and she did (and, due to her knowledge of the Lifestream and the cyclical nature of life, probably still does) love Zack.

I don't think Aeris knew that Cloud was living with Zack's memories. She never made any indication that she was aware.

Not specifically aware that he was living in Zack's memories, no. Aware that he is not himself, that he's living in an alternate persona, yes.

She constantly bugs him about his memories and past, prompting him to ask questions about things (such as, where was Tifa 5 years ago).

And she does realize how similar he is to Zack, mentioning it several times. Heck, she mentions it during the Gold Saucer date.

".........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..."

Now that's romantic. "Yeah, it's really freaky, but you're acting like practically a carbon copy of my old boyfriend."

In fact, while I'm at it...

Aerith
"Cloud..."
"I'm searching for you..."

Cloud
"............?"

Aerith
"I want to meet you."

Cloud
"But I'm right here."

Aerith
(I know, I know... what I mean
is...)
"I want to meet..... you."

During the date she's taking notice of Cloud's freaky similarity to Zack, and stating that she wants to meet the real Cloud, thus indicating that she knows that Cloud's current persona is just a facade. This is during the Gold Saucer date, which is pretty much the most romantically intimate the two get, and she's spending the entire time indicating that she knows how broken he is, and that she wants to reveal his true self.

Pursuing My True Self. Sorry, I couldn't resist. The name of that song is just too perfect for this discussion.