Ideal Adult ｢
Summary
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel's passing, Frieren's Party are in the Raad Region. Fern and Stark fight after Fern becomes upset at Stark for not buying her a birthday present. The two eventually reconcile with Sein's guidance and proceed to shop for a gift for Fern together. Frieren tells Sein that Fern must have sought his guidance due to his resemblance to Heiter, who Sein believes to be an ideal adult unlike himself. Frieren proceeds to pat his head, as she believes that Sein is managing being a proper adult just fine.
Plot Details
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel's passing, Frieren's Party are in the Northern Lands, specifically the Raad Region. In an inn within the town, Stark exclaims with tears in his eyes that Fern is always bashing him. He tells Frieren and Fern that he has had enough and is going to return to his Master, before slamming the door on his way out. Frieren follows Stark out the door and encounters Sein, who has only witnessed the aftermath of the argument and asks if Stark and Fern are having a lover's quarrel.
Frieren sits with a sulking Fern on the bed and explains that today is Fern's birthday, but Stark failed to prepare a present for her, leading to Fern becoming angry. Frieren believes that Fern went overboard with her anger, as she refused to listen to anything Stark said and encourages her to go after him. Sein inputs that he too has not bought a gift for Fern, as men typically do not make a big deal out of things such as anniversaries like birthdays. In response, Fern kicks at Sein's shins, causing Sein to say he will go buy Fern a gift lest his knees give out later. Lighting a cigarette, he tells Fern that for a boy of Stark's age, being treated so coldly would be confusing. As he heads out, he tells Fern that she should pursue Stark. Fern is further urged to do so by Frieren, and after a short contemplation, she heads out.
From behind a building at the edge of a plaza, Fern is shown spying on Stark, who is sitting despondently at the base of a statue of the Hero Himmel that has been erected in the middle of the plaza. She then approaches Sein, who has found a pouch with butterfly ornamentation at a vendor selling leatherwear. Sein notes that Fern also has a butterfly hair ornament, and Fern dryly comments that the pouch is adorable. This causes Sein to wonder if the pouch is not to Fern's taste, but Fern refutes him and claims that she finds the pouch unpleasant as it gives the impression Sein is experienced with women.
Sein then asks Fern if she managed to find Stark. Fern states that she saw him at the plaza, but trails off, leading Sein to deduce that Fern was unable to talk to him. He notes her youth makes her unable to handle boys the same age as her, but that she does not actually hate Stark, then tells Fern she can pick whichever handbag she wants or even choose a different store. However, Fern tells him with a smile that Sein's choice is fine, which surprises him. While picking out a bag for her, Sein advises Fern that even if Stark failed to prepare her a gift, he still thinks she was too offended, as Stark is not the diligent type and probably did not even remember his own birthday. Fern refutes that she gave Stark a present on his birthday, but Sein calls her out on the fact that they picked something out together. Fern is surprised he was able to guess that, but Sein tells her that it is rare for people to reject an offer to pick whatever present they would like. However, Fern must intrinsically believe in the sentimentality of giving and receiving gifts, and so she refuses the offer to pick her own gift. Sein walks back to the inn, encouraging her to make up with Stark and advises that she has to put her thoughts into words, so they can come across.
Fern seeks Stark, who is still at the plaza looking at Himmel's statue in thought. When she approaches him, Stark apologizes before Fern can voice her words. He explains that he wanted to find something together but was unsure about her reaction. Fern apologizes in return. They reconcile and walk down the street.
Frieren watches Fern and Stark from a rooftop, where she is joined by Sein. He comments that the two have made up and such quarrels are joys only young people can experience since adults would have learned to keep the right distance between each other. Sein tells Frieren that she has it rough with the two kids. Frieren asks the man what he meant with distance between people, which makes him retort that Frieren is also a kid. They talk about how Fern was raised by Heiter after Sein states that she came to him for advice. Sein holds Heiter in high regard and is unsure why Fern finds him and Heiter to be similar. Frieren, who has memories of Heiter's unpleasant sides, tells Sein that her old comrade was a corrupt priest. However, to Sein, Heiter was the embodiment of reliability and what an adult should be.
Frieren has a flashback to Heiter's last years when she was with him and Fern. In it, she says to Heiter that he matured. He acknowledges that he has grown old, but he thinks that his heart has barely changed since he was a child. He thinks that rather than being an adult, he just pretends to be one, and he has to do so to provide support to Fern as a good role model. After Heiter says that Fern needs lots of praise, Frieren asks who would praise Heiter for his efforts. He brings up that the Goddess would do so when he gets to Heaven. Frieren remarks that she will praise him now and goes to pat Heiter's head. Heiter is pleased and tells her that when he sees the Goddess, he will ask her to also praise Frieren, and Frieren exclaims that she looks forward to it.
Back in the present, Frieren pats Sein's head. He asks her what she is doing and she confirms that he is a great adult. Sein voices his disappointment, as he would have preferred to be comforted by an older lady. Frieren remarks self-complacently that she is a fine lady.
Characters in Order of Appearance
Locations
Battles and Events
Events
- Frieren's Party celebrates Fern's 18th birthday
- Fern and Stark quarrel but ultimately reconcile
- Sein gives Fern a birthday gift
- Fern and Stark shop for Fern's present together
Objects of Interest
Items
- Fern's new pouch with a butterfly motif gifted by Sein