Look. Sixteen-year-old kids could decide to face monsters spawned from human subconsciousness - or whatever the fuck Shadows were - and try to save the world. Not that Shinjiro really thought they should. Adults should clean up their own messes. But 'should' didn't really dictate how the world actually worked. He didn't think for a moment that this stranger couldn't handle himself.

Plus, the flames were pretty impressive. It's just clear from the outset that he's not going to get any kind of a decent swing. Shinjiro could step in, except Gokudera's then ramping up the flames to eleven - he stepped back instead, giving him plenty of space. Sparks shot everywhere and he cursed under his breath, "Shit."

It still did nothing.

Shinjiro retrieved his axe, scowling at the door (and not at the kid, who clearly did his best). "Hell if I know. I'd say some kinda stupid costume party, but normally, they don't abduct people for those."

He went to sit down, hunching a bit sulkily as he did. Weirdest afterlife he could've ever imagined. "I don't think we're gettin out of here until they say so."