#i know zack was just tryna support himself

[clockworkcheetah]

soon

[msnanaly]

Hey there! I‘m pretty new to FF7 - it all started with the Remake! Played the OG several times now and binge watched AC. And try to soak up every tiny information I could get. I love all these beautiful characters and especially the development of the relationships! I do ship Cloti and Zaerith. To me it feels right like that. Now I read Nojima said that Cloud and Aerith were lovers. Did he? I‘m curious and I only found aggressive Clearith-Shipper answers ...

Hi dear @bonsai81! Sorry I just noticed your ask 😅

Welcome to the fandom! I’m glad you also experienced, enjoyed and liked the game as much as we did! Tbh I’ve become also a fan not too long ago so I’m not as detailed as the others but I can say that I’m pretty much catching up with the old stuffs and current ones so I know things at a decent level.

I feel like the majority of the FF7 fandom supports Cloti and Zerith so you’re not the only one who feels that way. So back to your question. I’m not sure what and where did Nojima said that but I’m guessing you’re referring to the matter about Maiden

Let’s be clear. Nojima NEVER said or confirmed they were lovers. Why would Nojima even bother confirming them as lovers when in the first place they’ve never had any romantic relationship. That’s a fact btw 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s just the cult extremists misinterpretation. The Novela wasn’t even written by Nojima or the others. What people should also know is that it is written from Aerith’s point of view, not Nojima. So all the things that those haters say about their bible is like 95% not accurate, no offence lol. Why is that? It’s because they always try to find a way to twist something just to suit their narrative and for ship purpose, especially, use their lies to show as evidence at how canon their ship are. But anyways, Maiden is based on Aerith’s thoughts and feelings, not Nojimas. He even confirmed that he won’t let his personal opinions come through in a novela.

So here’s the thing, in the Novela it says that initially Cloud caught Aerith’s attention because he was too similar to Zack’s appearance, personality, and gesture wise. So let’s say she liked Cloud because she saw Zack in him. Eventually, over time she grew closer to Cloud and knew what was going on so at a certain point she internally realized her own feelings and that she liked Zack but she had grown to love Cloud even more for who he was. But personally, I don’t think what she feels is really romantic, by that I mean she is very attracted to Cloud and also has feelings for him but she ain’t gonna act on those feelings because it’s not what she prioritize and knows she has a bigger responsibility. She even admits that she was jealous of Tifa because she’s the only who can help and bring back Cloud. Some extremists even say that hopefully in the remake Aerith would be the one to save Cloud 🤦🏻‍♀️ That can’t happen first of all and second, why is Tifa the only one who can help Cloud? Because she’s the only one who has real connection between real Cloud and ‘fake’ Cloud! I don’t exactly remember who (Nojima, Nomura, or Kitase) said it that Cloud MIGHT have been better off with Aerith if all the chaos hadn’t happened, but that’s not the case at all, it’s just a mere supposition.

If you notice in the devs interviews, they always say or mention like “Cloud was a friend of hers” “A Important friend”, there’s always the friend word. This whole entire thingy could also be seen as like a one sided love but hey.. there will always be people saying “But he had feelings for her” WELL let’s say he was confused at some point. Aerith even says in the remake that even if Cloud thinks (confusion) he has fallen in love with her it’s NOT REAL (she’s talking about what he feels), which is a foreshadowing. After Cloud made it back from the lifestream and he is himself, he said that it was ALL AN ILLUSION. So we can say that what he felt for her was all an illusion. I’m not tryna undermine what bond Cloud and Aerith have but if I have to be honest I don’t sense any romantic relationship but more like a SPIRITUAL connection. So in conclusion, NO, Cloud and Aerith were and are not lovers. It’s all an exaggeration and desperation coming from the other side for Cloud x Aerith to be recognized as lovers and not Cloud x Tifa 😙🍵

Sorry if it was long 😘😅