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Hankies at the ready, because the love story of our time has drawn to a tear-jerking close.

Grape-kun, an elderly penguin and resident of Tobu Zoo in Miyashiro, Japan, captured hearts earlier this year when he discovered that love sometimes gives us a second chance.

The Humboldt penguin had recently been rejected by his long-term partner, Midori, whom he had been with for over a decade.

As if this wasn't painful enough, fickle Midori spurned him for a younger male penguin, leaving Grape, 21, to drift further and further away from the larger penguin group.

Then along came Hululu.

A cut-out of an anthropomorphic female penguin called Hululu from the series Kemono Friends was placed in the penguin enclosure as part of a promotion.

(Image: @tobuzoo7/Twitter)

Love-sick Grape found solace in Hululu, and would stare at her for hours on end.

So profound were his feelings, that he apparently became notably distressed when Hululu was briefly removed during a typhoon, indy100 reports.

Happily - and unlike wicked Midori - she came back.

While it's obviously impossible to verify the depth of Grape's feelings, his nesting behaviour suggested he was serious about Hululu.

(Image: @tobuzoo7/Twitter)

Grape was seen with his wings outstretched and his beak pointed upwards, in a penguin courtship stance used to show a penguin wants to take a relationship to the next level.

Forget Burton and Taylor. This is the real deal.

Even after grape fell ill, zoo staff allowed him to remain by her side, and confirmed his sad passing on Friday.

"The Humboldt penguin Grape-kun passed away yesterday. Sincere thanks to everyone for supporting him until now.

(Image: @tobuzoo7/Twitter)

"Thank you also to Hululu, who watched over him until the very end.

"And thank you, Grape-kun, for all this time.

"Rest peacefully in heaven."

We're not crying, honestly, we just have something in our eye...