Oh my gosh... you're so right!!! I felt weird being so ticked off on the romance aspect of this when I usually don't mind it like solo levelling but now it all makes sense!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!
Yes, in solo leveling the romance was shown as something that is part in the course of life, as in everyone eventually settles down and creates a family with someone special to them.
The girl there also followed MC, but she just had an interest in him as a strong and mysterious hunter, and that he also didn't stink for some reason
overall it was very smoothly played out.
Your welcome (=・ω・=)
The reason everyone hates on female love interest side characters and they get the Sakura syndrome is because the MC has yet to achive their potential and have a long way to go. Usualy having a FMC and blatantly showing interest or a path torwards romance feels like the MC is getting distracted from their main goals and usually the FMC is created just for one single purpose that is the love interst. They end up feeling too shallow as if they have nothing going on thier existence other than the MC, and seeing the depth the MC has the contrast becomes off putting.
I think that if author's want to give the readers a likable FMC love interest they should put off all the lovely dovley things untill they trully become adults have build up on their dreams and are starting to achive them, only subtly hinting at the potential romance.
A slow burn always goes a long way
Thats my take on this (=・ω・=)