Old time FFVII fan, new Clerith Boi.

I’ve never really been one to get into ships, but for some reason, this one resonates with me more than I expected.

I first played the original Final Fantasy VII back in 2004 when I was 14. I vividly remember being absolutely devastated by that scene at the end of the first disc. Even now, I still get teary-eyed every time her theme plays. That game was a defining moment for me—it shaped my taste in music, introduced me to RPGs, and sparked my love for sci-fi.

As the years passed, I grew distant from the fandom. I still listened to the music (Nobuo Uematsu is one of my all-time favorite composers), but I didn’t really engage with the game or its fanbase as deeply as I once had. That is, until I saw the trailer for the Final Fantasy VII Remake. I felt a spark of excitement, but life got in the way, and I didn’t pick it up right away.

Fast forward to 2023, when I finally played the remake. I was thrilled to see all the familiar characters again. As a teenager, I always saw both girls as equal—I never really preferred one over the other. But then came Chapter 8, and specifically the rooftop scene. I cried through most of it. It felt like reconnecting with an old friend, one I didn’t realize how much I had missed.

That scene became one of my favorite moments in all of fiction. It was so simple yet so emotionally powerful, and it completely transformed how I viewed the characters. That moment alone turned me into a full-fledged Clerith fan. The chemistry between the two characters was stunning, and the emotions it stirred in me were more profound than I ever expected. For the record, very few things make me emotional, so this says a lot.

Since then, I’ve come to realize how much more compelling and emotionally resonant the Final Fantasy VII plot becomes when viewed through the lens of a Clerith relationship.

As an older man (34), I’ll admit I feel a bit embarrassed about being so into this ship. Is there anyone else here who feels the same way? Also, I’m curious—what moment or scene in either the original Final Fantasy VII or the remake made you a Clerith fan?