Nina the Miraculous

Chapter 2: Meeting Seirin

Takao was once again pulling the rickshaw, in which there were now two people instead of just one. Himuro Tatsuya of Yosen High School in Akita and lovely Nina of Poland, his future schoolmate and - quite possibly - a teammate.

Himuro told him that the party was starting no sooner than at seven p.m., but since there was still much to do in the matter of preparation, the boy was supposed to be there early. And he was already running late before their totally unexpected meeting with Nina, but now he was really late. Takao assured Himuro that there was no need to be worried, because their destination was only seven minutes away. Nina, who felt responsible for them being deleted, was worried also, but they both told her that it was in no way her fault.

"Besides," Takao said, panting. "If anything, it's that stupid crazy driver's fault for almost hitting you. What in the world was he thinking? He could've killed you or seriously hurt you. What were we supposed to do? Nothing? Not a chance!"

Himuro fully agreed with Takao.

"I'm glad we stopped to check on you." He said it without any trace of a lie. "Between being late to some birthday party and you ending up seriously hurt, I prefer the former. And you had a panic attack. Obviously, it's better that you were not alone. So don't worry about it."

Nina nodded with a faint smile.

The rest of the way they passed without talking. After not a full ten minutes they found themselves in front of the building Himuro's brother lived in. Takao got off his bike, while Himuro helped Nina out of the rickshaw.

"Thank you!" she said happily. Her smile was beautiful and Himuro was glad that she was getting more and more relaxed with them.

"Don't mention it," he said. "Now, let's not make Taiga wait any longer."

The trio made their way to Kagami Taiga's apartment, a rickshaw left near the building's entrance. 

Once they found themselves standing at Himuro's brother's apartment's door, they heard a loud voice coming from inside.

"That's amazing, captain!"

Himuro and Takao both snorted.

"He's rather loud, isn't he?" Takao said.

"Yes, he is," Himuro agreed, chuckling.

Nina looked back and forth between them with confusion on her face.

"Was that your... brother?" Nina asked Himuro.

"Yup!" he said. "That's my little Taiga for you."

Takao cocked his eyebrows, snorting.

"Not so little anymore. The bloke is taller than you!" he pointed out with a dazzling grin.

Himuro decided to ignore Takao's comment and just called the intercon. A few moments later the door was opened by who Nina assumed was this Kagami Taiga. He was indeed taller than Himuro, had fiery red hair and split eyebrows.

"Hey!" Himuro said.

"Tatsuya!" the guy exclaimed, looking both happy and relieved. "You were so late I got kinda worried!"

"Well, I wouldn't have been if you gave better directions," Himuro pointed out not unkindly. "Fortunately for me, a mutual friend came to my rescue," he said standing aside so Takao was now in Kagami's eyesight.

"Jo, jo!" he greeted.

"What? Takao?" A puzzlement mixed with shock at seeing Takao was written on Kagami's face so plainly, it almost made Nina laugh.

"Your lost child has been delivered to you free of charge," Takao said teasingly. Kagami now looked even more puzzled than before.

"What do you mean "delivered"?" he asked, not certain what the blackhaired guy was talking about. Then something occurred to him. "Oh. Oh!" Suddenly he remembered about the strange rickshaw Takao was always pulling with grumpy Midorima sitting in it. "Oh."