Relationships

Tifa and Cloud
Cloud had a crush on Tifa when they were children, but Tifa never really noticed Cloud. Once he told her of his dreams of joining Soldier, Tifa made him promise that he would come back to protect her if anything should happen. Years later, she meets Cloud again, only this time he is a bit reluctant and doesn't truly appreciate Tifa. However, once Cloud succumbs to Mako poisoning, Tifa is the loyal friend that stays by his side and risks her life to help him. Many people believe that these two have a romantic relationship and often write them as such in fanfiction, but in the game the love was one-sided. Tifa had a crush on Cloud, but Strife never returned any feeling that surpassed friendship (and even then he wasn't much of a friend to her, though I suppose that can be explained away by Cloud's messed up mind at the time; he wasn't the best person to be in any relationship with).

Tifa and Barret
Supposedly, Barret was the first person to meet the young Tifa when she was left in Midgar by Zangan. She joined Avalanche, Barret's rebel group. These two have a strong friendship (Barret seems to look out for her feelings when it comes to Cloud). Barret is honest with Tifa, often telling her what he thinks and feels about their situations.

Tifa and Marlene
Marlene is the adopted daughter of Barret and seems to have a close relationship with Tifa. I suppose Tifa is like a mother/big sister to Marlene. Two years later in Advent Children, Barret leaves Marlene in Tifa's care as he searches the world for a new energy source to replace Mako.

Tifa and Aeris
People who often dislike either Aeris or Tifa will say that these two hated each other. That couldn't be further from the truth. Almost at once, Tifa develops a friendship with Aeris, despite the fact that both girls like Cloud. When the group stops by a town, Tifa and Aeris can be seen off to the side with each other, having a conversation. Tifa was always concerned about Aeris, and Aeris, in return, jumped at the opportunity to help Tifa even before the girls were properly introduced. Despite their attraction to the same man, their friendship with each other is fairly obvious.

Tifa and Vincent
Other than Cloud and Cid, Tifa seems to be the only other person Vincent talks to (presumedly because Tifa can at one point be the leader in the game). When Cloud is absent from the group, and Tifa takes over the leader position, Vincent gives her some interesting advice about love: "Too much hope is the opposite of despair. An overpowering love may consume you in the end..." He seems to understand her, but other than a few lines he really doesn't interact with her much.

Tifa and Zangan
Not much is known about Zangan, other than the fact that he was Tifa's martial arts teacher and that Tifa was very important to him. After Sephiroth burns down her hometown and fatally wounds Tifa, Zangan saves her and brings her to Midgar. Later, Tifa finds a letter from him, explaining what had happened all those years ago.

Cid, Yuffie, Red XIII and Cait Sith
She doesn't interact with them much, but at some point or another they all seem to generally care about Tifa in some way (perhaps less so with Yuffie, but she isn't really fleshed out well to begin with).

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