Love can be a hard thing to come by. Hold it close, and it will never leave you.

One of my favorite romances of all time comes from the smart medieval economic drama of Spice and Wolf. Lawrence and Holo’s relationship is a very complicated one. As a pagan god, Holo is effectively immortal, and both have fears about how they would be able to live their lives when it is guaranteed it will not last. Their goals are also in direct opposition, as Holo’s desire to return to her homeland would not work with Lawrence’s nomadic merchant life.

It is during the time that they both acknowledged their feelings and their problems that we hear this bittersweet ending. Fittingly called “Perfect World” , this song does a great job of illustrating the desire of the couple to stay together. They often fight, and their journey is anything but peaceful. The ending comes at a time when they really starting to realize how much they care about each other. As the first arc comes to a close, the ending’s final lyrics really resonate. If you hold me tight, the one who loves you will always be by your side. In the end, they both know their love for each other outweighs the hardships they face, and so they remain together.