“How was Tifa’s introduction scene decided on? Was it important to make a strong first impression on the player?
We felt it was important to show that the Sector Seeven Slums are Avalanche’s home ground and to relieve the tension after the reactor bombing missiong by having Tifa and Marlene waiting for everyone to arrive back in Seventh Heaven.
The thinking was that this situation would highlight Tifa’s kindness as a character. She is the only childhood friend that Cloud can open up to about his true feelings to, so we made it that you can only see a certain unguarded aspect of his personality when he is interacting with her.
Motomu Toriyama (Co-Director (Scenario Design))”
Source: https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/news/final-fantasy-vii-remake-revisited-chapter-3