COMPILATION: ADVENT CHILDREN: THE CASE OF TIFA

The Case of Tifa is a short story from On The Way to a Smile. This is a two-part short story, one Denzel's and one Tifa's. The Case of Tifa was not uploaded onto the web, but was instead printed into the "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - Prologue." These two stories was basically the 2-year time period between Final Fantasy VII and Advent Children. Also the book was has not been translated into english or any other language as what I know of now and there has been no plans to, I believe. Though several people/sites have took the time to translate it so we could read it. Where I read my translation was from here. So to read The Case of Tifa please go there. What I'm basically going to use this web space for is just some of the quotes and things that I think were really important to the story and things that just caught my eye. Basically I'm just going to summarize the story and add my opinion to it as well.

I enjoyed this story a lot because of seeing how Tifa and Cloud have tried to move on and start a "new life." At the beginning, where they talked about the making of a "new life", I love how they try to show comfort to each other and how that they will make it through and that this "new life" would be a success.

"Meanwhile, Cloud was sitting next to her gazing at the same scenery but was smiling peacefully. It was a smile that she hadn't seen before during their journey. Cloud noticed her gaze and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Cloud, you're smiling."
"I am?"
"Yeah."
"Everything starts now. A new..." Cloud looked for the right words, "A new life."
"I'm going to live. I think that's the only way I can be forgiven. We've been through... all sorts of things."
"I guess you're right..."
"But when I think about how many times I've thought about starting a new life, it's funny."
"Why?"
"I've always failed to do it."
"That's not funny."
"...I think it will be all right this time."
Cloud became very quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Because you're always with me."
"I haven't always been with you."
"That's how it will be starting from tomorrow," Cloud replied smiling again."

Also when they went to visit Aeris/Aerith and Tifa began to cry. Cloud showed comfort as he held a grip on her shoulder so she wouldn't go anywhere. All of these things showed how the relationship/bond of Cloud and Tifa was still alive.

"The tears wouldn't stop.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
She felt Cloud's hand on her shoulder. He held onto her firmly so that she wouldn't go anywhere. For now, she was just going to let herself cry as much as she felt like. Then she was going to leave the rest to him.
Alone, she just didn't know what she could do."

Cloud always comforts Tifa as he too learned how to move along. As Tifa, Cloud, and Barret talked about the past, Cloud knew Tifa wasn't herself.

""Since that's the case, we'll live on. We'll live on until we pay back for our sins. It's the only way," said Barret. When Tifa and Cloud were alone, Cloud said to her, "It's not like you to be troubled by your thoughts."
"It's... Just the way I am."
"No. You're much more cheerful and strong. If you've forgotten the way you were then, I'll be there to remind you."
"You really will?"
"Probably," Cloud said blushing."

So they tried to move along and keep themselves from continuing to be reminded of the past, but they knew it would never be forgotten. They would joke around a few times and realized that they had no troubles in the world when they did and this led to the night where Barret got really drunk and they laughed without a care in the world. This inspired Barret to propose the plan to open a bar and so they did. Marlene was the one who wanted the bar to be named Seventh Heaven, but Tifa stated that she wanted to avoid that name because it brought too much back from the past. Though she didn't tell Marlene this.

"Just having the past in me was enough. There was no need to go to the trouble of making a name that would remind me of it."

Well they name it Seventh Heaven and with a little help from people who Cloud, Tifa, and Barret helped before, the bar was opened. Then soon after as you read Barret leaves and he leaves Marlene with them so he could go back and settle his past. The last words he said to them as he left was: "Keep the family together and keep at it!"

Soon the family was having natural family problems and moments. I've found it quite cute as they had their moments. Though yes, Cloud and Tifa did argue over things they still kept close, besides it isn't it natural for a family to argue. I believe this showed how Cloud and Tifa argue like husband and wife, though they aren't married. That is how it is showed that the bond of their relationship is so tight and close.

After this Cloud made his own delivery business called the "Strife's Delivery Service." This made the time Cloud spent with the family a short amount of time. Then soon after Denzel joined the family. Cloud said that Denzel came to "his place", which made Tifa wonder what he was talking about. But for now Denzel became apart of the family and again they had family troubles that Tifa was curious about. She even asked a customer about the same age as Denzel the questions she had.

"I was troubled at why Denzel told Cloud and didn't tell me. One day I tried asking a customer that was about the same age as Denzel about it. His answer was that boys were just like that. So there really weren't any problems. We were just a normal family."

After Denzel arrived Cloud had been spending more time with the family. Every night it would be Cloud, the leader, and Marlene and Denzel, his assistances, helping him as he planned his routes for the next day. Tifa would join in too, but when she added a little more information Denzel would always double check with Cloud if it was true. This made Tifa annoyed, but she just thought it was okay and that was how families were like. Tifa felt like that having Denzel join the family completed them, as if the came a "real family." But through Denzel's arrival the family was back again. Cloud began to spend more time with them and became to have the "silly" conversations between him and Tifa.

"Maybe they became a real family after Denzel arrived. Cloud was clearly taking less jobs. At night, he would always make sure he had time to spend with the children. The silly little conversations he had with Tifa were also back."

Then Tifa and Cloud had a conversation talking about Denzel and Cloud's problem. Tifa found out that Cloud's "place" was the Church and Cloud apologize for hiding there. But Tifa said that she never said he couldn't go, but that she wanted them to go there together. Tifa then tells Cloud that he was wrong and that Aeris didn't bring Denzel to him, but to both her and Cloud and Cloud responded with a smile.

""So the problem was resolved?"
"What problem?"
"Your problem."
"Yeah..."
Cloud thought about it.
"It's OK if you don't want to tell me."
"I can't really explain it well..." Cloud warned before starting to talk.
"The problem isn't resolved. Well, I don't think it will be resolved for a long time to come. You can't retrieve lives that have been lost."
Tifa nodded silently.
"But maybe we can still save those lives that are endangered just now. Maybe even I can do it."
"You mean Denzel?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, do you remember what you said when you brought Denzel here?"
"What did I say?"
"You said Denzel came to your place."
"Well..." Cloud looked like a kid that about to be scolded as usual.
"Tell me. I'll decide whether I'm angry or not after I listen."
Cloud nodded and continued.
"Denzel had collapsed in front of the church where Aerith used to be. That's why I thought Aerith lead him to "my place.""
Saying all that in one breathe, Cloud looked away.
"You went to the church."
"I wasn't planning to hide there."
"You were hiding."
I'm sorry."
"I didn't say you couldn't go. But next time, I'll go together with you."
"I understand."
"And you're wrong, Cloud."
Cloud looked dubiously at Tifa.
"Aerith didn't bring Denzel to you."
"Yeah, that's what I thought too."
"Aerith brought that child to us, didn't she?"
Cloud gazed at Tifa and finally smiled. It had that kindness that made her think everything was all right."

Several days after you would read that Cloud leaves and Tifa begins to wonder about the conversation where Cloud smiled at her; which made her believe everything was okay. She tries calling him, but she is returned with no response and this leads up to just the beginning of Advent Children, the next chapter of their story.

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Promise Me is owned, designed, and maintained by Kim. Promise Me is not affiliated with Sony or Square Enix in any way. I do not own Cloud, Tifa, or Final Fantasy VII.