Cloud's attitude is his true personality
When young Cloud explained his mindset from twelve years earlier to Tifa, he said “everyone around me was stupid,” shrugging his shoulders and putting on an angry look. This proves that Cloud's cold, aloof, "uninterested" attitude has nothing to do with the influence of Jenova cells, and is his true personality。
A personality built on the memories of the sunny Zack, yet the cold side still remains.
A person pieced together from a fusion
He is a person pieced together from a fusion of his own idealized persona, Zack's memories and personality, and Jenova's thoughts — this is the early Cloud.
The desire to become a SOLDIER
① SOLDIER came into being through his own wish
At first he called himself "ex-SOLDIER, first class Cloud" and looked down on those around him, but in reality he was a false persona created from his own wish。
② Cloud plays a false persona
A young man with an introverted personality hidden beneath a cold exterior. He longed to become an elite Shinra Company SOLDIER like his admired hero Sephiroth, but his dream was shattered midway, and he became a victim of human experimentation by the Shinra scientist Hojo. Under the influence of the Jenova cells implanted in his body, he played a false persona, but with the support of his companions, he recovered his true self and grew as a person.
Influenced by Zack
① Cloud's persona was influenced by Zack's experiences
It is well known that Cloud is the protagonist of FF7. At the start of the story he appears to be a cool protagonist, but in reality he is poor at socializing and has an inferiority complex about "wanting to become a SOLDIER but failing to do so". Wanting to cover this up, the Jenova cells implanted in his body in Nibelheim created Cloud's persona based on Zack's experiences. In CC, the inwardly weak Cloud is brought to the fore, and we can see that he was influenced by Zack。
② He plays his ideal self with Zack as a reference
At the start of the story, Cloud, using Zack's memories and position as a reference, unconsciously plays his ideal self。
③ Cloud formed his image of a SOLDIER based on Zack's words and conduct
Zack was able to become a SOLDIER, unlike Cloud who gets motion sickness. Cloud formed his own image of a SOLDIER based on Zack's words, actions, and demeanor.
④ Imitating Zack
The Jenova cells in Cloud's body have the ability to imitate others. The one copied by this ability was Zack, a soldier Cloud could never become and the one who accompanied him to Nibelheim. Cloud's memories from early in the story are those of Zack.
⑤ Cloud's persona is not a copy of Zack
Zack was 18 that year, born in Gongaga
Cloud was 16, and his hometown was Nibelheim
Reading the Cloud in Tifa's memories and Cloud's own ideal image
Jenova has a "mimicry ability" that lets it read others' memories and emotions and change its own appearance, voice, speech, and behavior accordingly. In the past, the Ancients were approached by a genetically engineered being using this ability, which planted a virus inside them and led to their deaths.
This mimicry ability, though incomplete, is possessed not only by Jenova itself but also by those carrying its cells. The reason "Cloud, who was mentally broken before the story began, returned to an apparently normal state as soon as he saw Tifa" is that the Jenova cells in Cloud's body, through their mimicry ability, read the image of Cloud in Tifa's memories and Cloud's own ideal image of himself, forming a new persona. That is the mimicry ability.
Aerith and the real Cloud
① Gradually drawn to Cloud himself
"Although at first Aerith felt a kinship with Cloud because his manner resembled that of Zack, the first person she liked, she gradually became interested in Cloud himself and was drawn to him"
② Aerith saw through the real Cloud, which even Cloud himself had not noticed
Sensing the parts of Cloud that overlapped with Zack, Aerith saw through that this was not the real Cloud. "I'm looking for you" "I want to see you" — these two lines saw through the real him, which even the Cloud before her had not noticed himself, his true self the existence of which she perceived, a statement rich in meaning.
③ Aerith wants to meet the real Cloud
Praying was futile. Seeing Cloud's broken heart, Aerith shed tears. The wreckage of his personality seemed beyond repair. But then, if he wasn't Cloud, who exactly was he? Aerith only knew him as Cloud the ex-SOLDIER—that wasn't even a means to speculate. An indescribable sense of helplessness surrounded her.
"Cloud... I want to see you. The real you."
④ She has feelings for Cloud, who has lost his sense of self
Aerith, aware that Cloud had lost his true self, still held feelings for him. While striving to fulfill her mission as a Cetra, her concern for him continued until the very last moment.
⑤ She is searching for the real Cloud
What she said to Cloud was meaningful: "I'm looking for you" and "Don't let yourself break down." She seems to have already realized that the Cloud before her was not the real him, even though the two had not known each other for long. Could this also be due to her² innate, mysterious ability?
⑥ She has already seen through Cloud's true nature
"Don't let yourself break down"
Aerith, standing in Cloud's dream, seemed to comfort him and give him advice. These words show that Aerith had already seen through Cloud's true nature。
⑦ Aerith's soul and the real Cloud
[Maaya Sakamoto]: In a word, innocent. Her very existence is a kind of "beauty". This is Aerith's "impression" in Cloud's heart，and also Aerith's soul conversing with the real Cloud... Her lines all left a deep impression on me and resonated with me; it was difficult, but I performed them with care.
⑧ Understanding the real Cloud
Aerith could not sleep. Perhaps because she was a Cetra, she did not feel tired at all.
Now, she was simply happy. Happy to have come to know the real Cloud, and to have been able to protect him, even for a brief time—
⑨ Making clear the distinction between Zack and Cloud
That sight seemed dazzling to Zack.
"Tch, well, Aerith, you're the most wonderful of the girls I get along with. After that mission, if I could make it back to Midgar, maybe we might have ended up dating. I hate Sephiroth, and also Shinra for doing the covert work."
"Someone who gets along with lots of girls would never become a lover."
"That's so harsh. I'm just kind to everyone, that's all."
"That's exactly what won't do. It has to be someone clumsy and pure like Cloud."
"Is that what Aerith likes?"
"Who knows? After five years, maybe I've already changed!"
"Tch!"
⑩ Aerith perceives Cloud's true personality
"I'm searching for you. I... want to meet you." Said to Cloud during the date at the Gold Saucer amusement park
Drawn to Cloud, who carried the shadow of her first love Zack, and after going through so much time together, she perceived that Cloud's true personality lay sleeping deep within. Without rushing him to realize it, she spoke these meaningful words.
⑪ Ever Crisis fireworks festival
【Cloud】: Being with Aerith, I can discover sides of myself even I don't know
【Aerith】: It's the fireworks again, I can't hear you
【Cloud】: I won't say it—leave it to your imagination
【Aerith】: These fireworks, honestly...!
...omitted
【Aerith】: From now on too, I want to travel to more places and hear more duets together
together with even the Cloud that Cloud himself doesn't know
【Cloud】: You could hear it...?
【Aerith】: Leave it to Cloud's imagination
The line-guessing event is the branch with Aerith
This event has branches with Aerith, Tifa, and Yuffie. In this event, Cloud's line-guessing is the branch with Aerith.
If you guess the line correctly, you can get a Cloud Guaranteed Ticket and a Cloud sitting plush
The answer is ”自分でも知らない俺” (a self that even I don't know)
The full line is "Being with Aerith, I can discover sides of myself even I don't know"
⑫The only Gold Saucer date inserted in Fortune Street is Cloud and Aerith's
While riding the Ferris wheel, Aerith surely noticed... I was running away from my true self
