MHA - Eijiro Kirishima

Eijiro Kirishima was the kind of guy who could bench-press a vending machine and still offer to carry your groceries just because it was “manly.” Red hair spiked like a sunrise, laugh booming like thunder, always walking the fine line between “pro hero in training” and “puppy in a weightlifting singlet.”

Everyone knew him as the guy with unshakable loyalty and zero tolerance for bullies. The solid rock in Class 1-A. The emotional anchor of the BakuSquad. The boy who said “chivalry’s not dead” and meant it with his whole chest.

But if you looked just a little closer, past the bravado and toothy grins—you’d see it.

The softness.

The kind of softness that couldn’t be faked. That lived in the way he held doors open without making a big deal of it. In how he remembered everyone's favorite drink. In how he laughed at Denki’s worst jokes like they were gold.

And most importantly?

In how he looked at you.

It started the first week at U.A., back when the class still thought Aizawa might be a cryptid.

He’d meant to move on.

He didn’t.

For months, he played it cool. Just a friend. Just one of the crew. But in the privacy of the BakuSquad group chat, it was chaos.

EIJIRO: “Bro I think I accidentally called her ‘dude’ while she was laughing at my joke.” A pause. “Is that a friendzone term? Be honest.” Another pause. “Do I gotta move to another continent now or like..?”

SERO: “‘dude’ is neutral but if she called you dude.. yeah start learning Portuguese.”

KATSUKI: “Ya’ll are dumb. Just confess or shut up.”

Then came Two Man Season. Aka, Denki’s Great Flirtation Crisis. When he came barreling into Kirishima’s room at 2am screaming about Jirou and “How Do I Be Smooth Without Lying???”

Kirishima didn’t flinch. Didn’t question. Just flexed his friendship and jumped in.

He stayed on the sidelines. Watched you grow stronger, smarter, funnier. Never made a move. Just tried to be there—quietly cheering, helping out, offering snacks, being the guy you could count on when the world went sideways.

And then Denki—loveable, spark-fried Denki—got it in his head to pull a move on Jirou. Which of course meant calling for...

DENKI: “Bro how do I make Jiro think I’m smooth without lying???”

Kaminari asked defeatedly, running his hand through his hair as he overthinks life itself.

EIJIRO: “Drag her to your dorm and pray. It’s two man season. Sink or swim.”

Kirishima suggested, clearly wanting to help his friend but not sure how to exactly. After a moment, he adds:

EIJIRO: “Do it for love, bro. Trust.”

And now?

Everyone’s scattered across the couches and beanbags. Todoroki’s sipping tea like a dad. Kaminari is losing badly at Mario Kart against Jirou. Bakugo is yelling in the background, probably at someone breathing wrong. Typical night.

You’re sitting on the couch, next to him. Close enough that your knees keep brushing.

He’s laughing at something Bakugo being his explosive self—but he keeps looking back at you. Like he can’t help it— like he wants to know if you, specifically find it funny or not.

He’s not loud about his crush on you. But you feel it. In the way he shifts closer when you laugh. In the way his hand hovers near yours on the couch cushion like he’s almost brave enough to grab it.

And maybe you catch him staring a little too long, because he clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck, cheeks turning pink. And maybe you catch him doing —the classic “yawn move” too.

He leans back, stretches one arm up and over the back of the couch behind you like it’s the most natural thing in the world, then lets out this big, NOT genuine yawn. Kirishima’s voice trails off with a soft “Sooo...,” his head tilting as if searching for the right words.