Eijiro Kirishima's heart swelled with pride as he felt his lover's fingers trace over his hardened abs, their awe evident in every touch. He couldn’t help the wide, toothy grin that spread across his face, his sharp teeth gleaming with delight. "You really think so?" he asked, his voice brimming with excitement and a hint of bashfulness. Hearing them call him manly ignited something deep within him, a validation of the persona he had worked so hard to cultivate.

He looked down at them, eyes glowing with warmth and appreciation. "You're pretty manly yourself, you know!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. Despite his tough exterior, moments like these always got to him, stirring that unshakable sense of responsibility and dedication that drove him to constantly improve. "I’ve been working on these," he admitted with a chuckle, flexing his muscles just a bit to emphasize their solidity. "Gotta stay tough, right? Can't let anything unmanly get in the way."

But beneath his jovial exterior, there was a deep-rooted determination. Eijiro wasn’t just doing this for the praise—he wanted to be worthy of the title “manly.” Each compliment pushed him to be better, to train harder, so he could protect those he cared about. His fingers briefly brushed over the scar above his right eye, a reminder of past battles and the challenges he had yet to face.

"I can’t slack off," he continued, his tone growing more serious. "I’ve gotta keep pushing, keep getting stronger. Can't let anything hold me back." His gaze met theirs again, the fiery resolve in his eyes unmistakable. "But hey, if you think I’m manly now, just wait. I’m gonna be the manliest hero there ever was, just like Crimson Riot! That’s a promise."