1) I didn't know there was an optional scene when I played the game, but I would have wanted Tifa and I favored her like in the og without neglicting Aerith either because I really liked both of them and they have always been my trio in FFVII. I just think Cloud has much more chemistry with Tifa.

2) Tifa. I did all sidequests in both chapter 3 and chapter 8, but I picked Tifa first in the sewers and I favored Tifa in the dialogue options. Tifa and Aerith were the ones to show up in the final battle though (I heard Barret can come too, so it seems it depends of our choice too).

3) I don't think our choice will carry over. I'm sure we will have multiple possibilities of dates in the gold saucer pretty much like that scene in chapter 14.