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Okay guys, let's shed some light on this.

Tifa could not break through to him during the entire game/movie. Not once. I don't hate her, but let's put this in dollars and cents here: The only one to ever breach his walls, if only a little, was Aerith. She made a connection with him that no one was able to achieve earlier.

He may have cared for Tifa in a brother/sister kind of way- childhood friends don't always hook up, and I saw hints of it in the game as well. Fact is, I played both Tifa's and Aerith's date at Gold Saucer, and dammit... the one with Aerith was perfect. Beautiful. Excellent.

She said what she felt, immediately and straight on. Without pause or hesitation. Remind me again whether Tifa does that or not, or if she falters.

That scene alone, for those of you that remember, was the proof- the undeniable proof- that Cloud showed interest in something else other than his own safety and survival. If not that... then Aerith's death was the final nail in the coffin.

There's my two cents, after playing through this game four times. (In order to get everything possible, mind you.)

Once again, I saw nothing of that. Played through twice in order to confirm. S-E sticks to the script as far as that's concerned. As for the reasoning that Aerith is dead... you're going by process of elimination, not actual fact and gameplay.

Truth is, by the time Advent Children rolls around Cloud is in the same emotional state that he was in during the opening scenes of the game. Question... why do you think that is?

True. She did show interest in him and cared for him. This is sooth, even in FFVII.