[Maybe Ryuji just gives off Big Bear Energy and that level of animalistic charisma is so... unbearable... that it attracts kindred spirits to him. Or, well, yeah- it is a barbarian trait.]

When animals get all pissed off around me, I can steal their rage and use it for myself instead. That's how I won good ole' Teddy over here.

[He growls a little. He likes Theodore a lot more than "Teddy." More dignified that way.]