All the times Cloud and Aerith are called a couple in Chapter 9

Cloud and Aerith have one major purpose in Chapter 9 of Final Fantasy VII Remake, and it isn’t to rescue Tifa from Don Corneo’s mansion – it’s to convince everyone around them that they are in a romantic relationship. Which they do – without even trying.

• [Bandit] Hold it right there, lovebirds!
• [Barker] Welcome to Wall Market, the pleasure capital of Midgar that’s got everything for everybody! Couple, huh? S’all good!
• [Barker] You two! Yes, you! Do you have a place to stay this enchanted evening? We have the perfect room for a sweet-looking couple like you!
• [Madame M to Cloud and Aerith flirting] Look, just…take it outside the parlor, would you?
• [Colosseum Staff] Hey, lovebirds! Over here!
• [Scotch] For our next match, we welcome two fighters—a young couple, no less!
• [Kotch] Talk about a bad date!
• [Kotch] A bad first date!
• [Audience member] “Couple”!? Get outta here with that lovey-dovey bullshit!
• [Scotch] Fresh from their first date with death, I present…the lucky couple!
• [Audience member] “Couple” my ass! The hell you two tryin’ to pull!?
• [Scotch] Once more—the sweethearts who’ve surprised us with upset after spectacular upset! The power couple with a boundless love for bloodshed! The champions of Madam M—Cloud and Aerith!
• [Kotch] And the winners of the Corneo Cup—the deadly and dynamic duo, Cloud and Aerith!
• [Scotch] Participating in this match will be this evening’s leading lights—the dynamic duo that has crushed all competition thus far! Cloud and Aerith!
• [Audience member] Cloud! Over here! Look at them! They’re so adorable!
• [Kotch] The manifestation of pure evil versus the most badass couple this side of Midgar—have you ever seen a fight more incredible, more epic!?
• [Scotch] This couple has fought the toughest of the tough, the meanest of the mean, but can they handle the horror of the Hell House!?
• [Scotch] Get a load of those bulging biceps! I know what Aerith sees in him!
• [Kotch] Has our dynamic duo already found this house’s major design flaw!?
• [Kotch] A heroic move by Aerith as she provides support for her partner! Savor that healing wind!
• [Kotch] This housewarming party is putting their love to the test! Are they strong enough to pull through?
• [Scotch] Now that is the price you pay for daring to get in the way of true love!
• [Kotch] The bonds of love, severed by death! Can they shoulder the burden of their loss and claim revenge?
• [Kotch] The lovebirds are going hard at the house, but they’ll have to do better than that if they wanna raze this roof!
• [Scotch] These two got on the wrong side of this house! Can our couple cope?
• [Scotch] This could be the beginning of the end for our lovebirds!
• [Kotch] The dynamic duo is faltering – could this be the end!?
• [Kotch] A barrage of furniture is headed straight for our capable couple!
• [Kotch] Talk about a girlfriend you can rely on! Be still my beating heart!
• [Kotch] Does our dynamic duo have what it takes to defeat the security of this high-tech home!?
• [Kotch] Our favorite couple is about to get a face full of flame! Is there any way to escape the heat!?
• [Kotch] It looks like the Hell House is throwing a neighborhood get-together! And our lucky couple’s been invited to the soiree!
• [Kotch] Looks like our couple’s in for another round of musical chairs!
• [Kotch] What will the lovebirds do – what will they do!?
• [Kotch] Folks, it’s not looking food for the lovebirds in this brutal battle!
• [Kotch] Our tremendous twosome has put on their hard hats!
• [Kotch] We’re in the final stretch of this special once-in-a-lifetime match! But has our power couple done enough to take home the cup?!
• [Sam to Cloud] You ditched your lady friend and fellow champion to have a boy’s night out in Wall Market?
• [Madame M to Cloud] I can tell by your hands you’ve come a long way. They’re the hands of a fighter…who has found new purpose. A woman…or two? I wonder…
• [Kind Old Man] Look at you – such a handsome couple! Ahh, youth…
• [Sweet Old Man] Is that pretty little lady your girlfriend?
• [Kind Old Man] You better treat her well, you hear?

Now, Cloud and Aerith may not be in a committed relationship at this time, but it’s clear that there is major romantic tension between them – and the NPCs of the game want to be clear that the player knows this.

Cloud also never argues, denies, or objects to these epithets. Which is an interesting contrast from the time Aerith asked Cloud is Tifa was his girlfriend:

Aerith Is Tifa, like… your girlfriend?
Cloud: No.
Aerith: But she’s someone special.
Cloud: It’s not like that.

Chapter 8

Likewise, when Tifa asks about the nature of Cloud and Aerith’s relationship at the beginning of Chapter 10, Cloud doesn’t elaborate or rush to deny.

Tifa: I didn’t wanna drag Aerith into all this…
Cloud: She’ll understand.
Tifa: How do you two know each other?
Cloud: I saved her, she saved me… Round and round it goes.
Tifa: And…that’s all there is to it? Sure there isn’t something else going on?
(Cloud has no line of response)

Chapter 10

So there you have it. The NPC dialogue in Chapter 9 is hilariously stuffed to the brim with references to Cloud and Aerith seeming like a couple. Cloud doesn’t ever oppose this (as he did when asked if he and Tifa were a unit).

So, as Scotch and Kotch say and Clerith and the love triangle:

Scotch: Cloud and Aerith – they stand poised to win it all!

Kotch: And the winners—
Scotch: And champions—
Kotch & Scotch: Cloud and Aerith!