I get where you're coming from. However, if the only conversation they can have is about someone else—if that's the only thing they talk about, rather than investing in each other or expressing their feelings—then it's not really a relationship.

The only time Fern ever gets mad at Stark is when he's doing something dumb, but she doesn’t invest her time in him. She doesn’t talk to him about him, their relationship, or even the idea of being in one. The only thing she talks about is Frieren. In my opinion, that’s not love. And forcing Stark into that dynamic just because they happen to be traveling together is unfair.

The writer could easily introduce another character—a female swordswoman or a heroic figure who admires Stark for his journey with Frieren. Or even another mage. Stark should be exposed to more women, to someone who genuinely appreciates him, rather than being stuck with someone who only ever talks about someone else while they’re together.

Sure, Fern has been with Frieren since she was a kid, and that’s fine. But if Frieren is the only thing she ever talks about, that’s not love. In real life, anyone would find it disrespectful to take a girl on a date only for her to spend the whole time talking about another person.

Even in the anime, most of the fandom seemed to push for Frieren and Fern to be together—not because of the yuri aspect, but because Frieren has been in Fern’s life since childhood. And that in itself feels weird. But putting that aside, if Stark and Fern are supposed to be in love, yet all Fern ever does is talk about, chase after, and clean up after Frieren, then what does that say about their relationship? Even the little brooch on the back of Fern’s head came from Frieren.

If this is all there is to it, then Stark deserves the chance to experience a different kind of love. And there’s nothing wrong with that. How is he supposed to know if Fern is the one if all he ever hears from her is talk about another woman? That’s just weird.