Friend

Arguably, Tifa’s most crucial role in the story is that of a friend as it defines who she is: a caring, good-natured person who serves as the team’s emotional backbone. She is sensitive to all her friends’ feelings, even to the point of being able to sense sorrow from our resident tough-guy Barret.

Although the game sets up Aerith and Tifa to be rivals for Cloud’s affection, there are many friendly and positive moments between the two. Those moments include Tifa and Aerith running off to tan at Cost del Sol, or gossiping together at Lower Junon. If neither of them are in your party before heading to the top of the planetarium in Cosmo Canyon for the first time, the girls can be found sitting together at the restaurant. For the most part, Tifa and Aerith actually become friends, despite all odds. When Aerith dies, Tifa mourns her loss openly; before breaking down in tears, Tifa tenderly caresses her face, knowing she’ll never have the chance to see her smile again.

Tifa: Although she never talked about it to us she must've had a rough life... I think Aerith looked forward to tomorrow and the future more than anyone... ...she must've had many many dreams.....

After Aerith’s death and before Meteorfall, speaking to Tifa on the Highwind triggers dialogue where she contemplates how Aerith might have felt before she passed. Here, Tifa remembers Aerith as her own person who carried not just pain and suffering, but hopes and aspiration as well. Likewise, as Aerith comes to terms with her own death in the novella, Hoshi wo Meguru Otome (The Girl Who Travels the Planet), she accepts that Tifa will be the one to remain beside Cloud from then on.

After Sephiroth’s second defeat in Advent Children, Tifa senses Aerith’s presence and thanks her. Though Aerith many not have an earthly form anymore, Tifa still fully understands that she will always be there to watch over them and help them in times of need.

While the game could have very easily gone in the direction of pitting the two heroines against one another in competition for Cloud’s attention, it surprisingly doesn’t at all. Sure, feelings of jealously, though obscured are likely present, any real animosity is nonexistent. For one, Tifa and Aerith are the only women canonically present in the party for the first act and a half, so it makes sense for them to find camaraderie with one another. Yes, there is Yuffie, but at fifteen years old, she is far too young and immature between the two to develop the kind of closeness friends have in their 20’s.

Secondly, their personalities are not actually conflicting, but compatible with one other. Tifa is hardworking, caring, and dependable, while Aerith is sensitive, compassionate and optimistic.It’s actually a fantastic recipe for a healthy relationship, friendship or otherwise. Plus, in all honestly, how awful would it be if they were set up to be catty and malicious towards one another? As players get to witness to their interactions, it is refreshing and lovely to see two female characters get along well as they both bring out the best part of themselves when they are with one another.