"Mom… Dad…"
Ais stared blankly at the ceiling, one hand unconsciously brushing over her hair as if she could still feel her mother's gentle touch from the dream.
"That was… a dream. It felt so real."
She knew perfectly well it wasn't reality. The mother and father she'd seen were only her memories, fragments from long ago. Even the version of her mother inside that dream had told her as much.
But still—Ais couldn't stop wishing she could go back.
Maybe the people in that world weren't real, but the warmth she'd felt there… she wanted to feel it again. Curling up, she hugged her knees, a dull ache pressing in her chest. The people who'd once given her faith and strength existed only in her dreams. And knowing that, the will she'd carried for so long began to waver.
"Those are some dangerous thoughts you've got there, Ais."
She turned, startled, and saw Loki sitting on her bed—completely naked, watching her with amused eyes.
"Loki, you read my mind."
Ais puffed her cheeks, glaring at the goddess for poking into her thoughts.
"Gods can't actually read minds after sealing away their divinity," Loki said with a yawn. "But after living this long, some of us clever ones can read your heart just by looking. And yours, sweetheart, is written all over your face."
Completely brushing off Ais's complaint, Loki grinned and continued.
"Anyway, Tsuna only sent you into that dream yesterday to calm your heart. It wasn't meant for you to drown in it."
"Loki… mean."
Ais instantly realized what that meant—she wasn't going to be allowed back into that dream world again. The only person who could send her there, Tsuna, definitely wouldn't help her just for that.
"Mean or not, that's how it is." Loki stretched lazily. "If you want to experience that dream again, then you'd better work hard in both worlds, Ais."
Still grinning, the goddess hopped barefoot off the bed and walked over to the cabinet to grab some clothes.
"Oh right," she said casually, "Tsuna also told me about his next growth plan—and the Strengthening Plan for everyone else."
"!?"
"Finn, Gareth, and Riveria are all included. But as for you, we didn't discuss anything."
What!? Not me again!?
Ais's eyes widened in disbelief.
During the last Expedition, she'd been assigned mostly to guard duty, barely getting any real training. And now, even the Strengthening Plan didn't have her name on it?
That meant she wouldn't be improving anytime soon. The realization hit her like a shock—an uncomfortable, burning panic replacing the calm she'd woken up with.
If she couldn't return to the World of Dreams and wasn't part of the strengthening list… then she'd be the only one left behind.
That thought made her chest tighten painfully.
"I'm going to find him!"
Before Loki could get another word out, Ais threw off the blanket, jumped out of bed, and bolted for the door.
Watching the door slam behind her, Loki sighed, tugging her shirt over her head.
"That girl's personality isn't changing anytime soon."
But she couldn't help smiling to herself.
"Still, looks like Tsuna's going to have his hands full for a while. Between the World of Dreams and her drive to grow stronger, she's definitely gonna be chasing him around nonstop."
Not that Loki planned to stop it.
At least for the next six months, it couldn't be helped. Especially since Tsuna was the one running Finn and the others' Strengthening Plan. It'd be stranger if Ais didn't stick close to him.
"Guess I'll leave it to him. Poor Tsuna—I just hope the kid doesn't get hounded to death."
The image of an exhausted Tsuna standing before her made Loki chuckle. Somehow, the thought was a little too entertaining.
Meanwhile, Ais was already sprinting down the hall toward Tsuna's room.
Thanks to the times she'd visited with Tiona and Tione before, she knew exactly where it was.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just as she turned the corner, she heard knocking ahead—and saw Tiona and Tione already standing in front of Tsuna's door.
She slowed, approaching them curiously.
"Tiona, Tione."
"Oh, morning, Ais!" Tiona greeted cheerfully.
"You two here for training too?"
At that, the twin sisters exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.
Even after a rough, half-failed Expedition, Ais was still thinking about training. Typical Ais—some things never changed.
"No, no," Tiona waved a hand. "We were actually planning to drag Tsuna out for a walk!"
Unlike Ais, neither sister was obsessed with constant training—especially now that both their Statuses were maxed out. All they needed to Level Up was more Excellia.
"Ais," Tiona tilted her head. "From what you said… you came to find Tsuna for training?"
"…Yes."
Ais nodded firmly, not even trying to hide it. "Loki said she and Tsuna discussed a new Strengthening Plan—but she didn't mention me."
"Ohhh, now it makes sense," both sisters said in unison.
That explained everything—why Ais had stormed over so early and looked so fired up.
Still, the mention of the Strengthening Plan sparked their curiosity.
"So, Ais," Tiona asked, eyes bright, "what exactly is this Strengthening Plan?"
"I don't know. Loki only said my name wasn't on it, so I came to ask."
Her simple, honest tone made the two amazonesses exchange knowing smiles.
Yup. That was totally Ais.
Still, her habit of tuning out everything except "training" was something that probably needed fixing.
Tione sighed and turned toward the door. "Easiest way to find out is to ask the man himself."
No hesitation—she raised her hand and knocked.
A moment later, footsteps sounded from inside.
The door opened, revealing Tsuna in his sleepwear, looking groggy and confused at the sight of three women waiting outside his room.
"…You're all up early."
"Ehehe~ Since the Expedition's finally over, we thought we'd drag you out for some fun!" Tiona grinned.
"Tempting, but that's gonna be tricky for me," Tsuna said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"After the Expedition, some of my information still needs to be made public. It's the best time for me to establish a proper public image."
He looked serious now. "So for the time being, I can only move through my Puppets. That way, the other gods will understand I'm just a summoner—and nothing more."
"Oh, that plan you mentioned with Loki," Tione realized.
She remembered—the one involving Raul leaking Tsuna's 'intel' as bait.
"Guess that means the outing's off for now," Tiona sighed.
"Yeah. But once Raul finishes leaking the information," Tsuna smiled faintly, "we can all head out together. I'll even make some casual clothes for the occasion."
At that, Tiona's eyes lit up. "Deal!"
The sisters exchanged a look of shared excitement.
And Ais, standing silently beside them, had only one thought—whatever this Strengthening Plan was, she was going to be part of it.
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Note: Remember the deal guys, top 30 = 15 chapters.