"So strong..."
Ais lay sprawled across her bed, staring at the imprint paper in her hands.
Strength: I40 → H197
Endurance: H50 → G265
Dexterity: H42 → G296
Agility: H68 → F322
Magic: I79
Her golden eyes sparkled with pure excitement and wonder.
For someone constantly obsessed with her own strength, those numbers were absolutely beautiful—an aesthetic of raw power.
"It's a shame I can't stay in there longer..."
If she could, Ais would've stayed inside that Training Space for as long as possible. It was far more effective than the Gravity Bracelet Tsuna had given her.
But there were strict limits—only half a day per session, and a full day's cooldown before reentry.
It was disappointing, sure, but Ais understood why. That space placed immense strain on the body; staying too long could cause real damage.
She took a moment to assess her condition.
"My joints ache in several places... I couldn't completely adapt to the pressure inside. Even raising my arm makes my shoulder hurt."
It wasn't an intense pain, but it affected her movements. Nothing severe enough to justify using an Elixir—those were only for emergencies.
Besides, an Elixir cost five hundred thousand valis per bottle.
Ais didn't have anywhere near that kind of money. Weapon maintenance alone already drained most of her savings every month. Spending half a million valis just to treat a bit of soreness was out of the question.
"Maybe I should just rest tomorrow... or go to the Dian Cecht Familia for treatment?"
Getting checked there would be far cheaper than using an Elixir. Minor injuries wouldn't cost much at all.
Then suddenly—an idea struck her.
"Wait. I could just ask Tsuna."
In the past, whenever she needed help, she'd gone straight to Riveria. But now that she had Tsuna—the walking definition of all-purpose—there was no reason to bother Riveria anymore.
Instinctively, Ais reached back and rubbed her lower back.
She still remembered the lecture Riveria had given her after the Gravity Bracelet incident—she couldn't lie or sit properly for two days afterward.
If she went to Tsuna instead... well, she doubted he'd scold her.
With that thought, Ais jumped off the bed and quietly slipped out of her room.
It was already close to eleven at night. The Familia's home base wasn't completely silent yet—faint voices drifted from the direction of the baths and dining hall—but the corridors themselves were calm.
Most people had already gone to bed. The day's training had exhausted everyone.
After a few turns, Ais stopped before a quiet, secluded room and knocked lightly.
Knock, knock, knock!
The door opened a moment later—but it wasn't Tsuna standing there. It was one of his Puppets.
"Ais?"
The real Tsuna's voice came from behind it. He was submerged in a transparent tank filled with some kind of glowing liquid.
The Puppet vanished, and Ais stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, this?" Tsuna smiled faintly. "It's recovery therapy. Helps the body heal faster after training."
He explained, his voice calm and matter-of-fact.
"After a workout, muscles are extremely tense. If you don't relax them properly, it can cause stiffness and other issues. Direct healing magic works, but not as well as gradual recovery. Immersing in the restorative fluid eases the tension and repairs the micro-damage caused by exercise."
He exhaled lightly. "I overdid it this time, so this gentler recovery method suits me better."
It had been a spontaneous idea, but surprisingly effective. The only downside was how easy it was to fall asleep while soaking.
"Oh!"
Ais's eyes lit up immediately. That was exactly what she needed.
"Tsuna, can I try it too?"
"Huh? You're feeling sore too?"
"Yeah. My joints hurt a bit."
"...Well, that explains it."
Tsuna thought back to how Ais had trained inside the Training Space. Even his basic routines in there had been grueling—but Ais had pushed herself harder. The fact that she was only sore and not completely immobile was impressive... and a little insane.
He created another identical transparent tank beside his own with a flick of his hand.
"Ais, you can lie in that one."
"Ah, but you should go grab a swimsuit first," he added. "The more skin contact you have with the restorative fluid, the better the effect."
"Don't worry about catching a cold—it automatically adjusts to the perfect temperature. Way more comfortable than lying in bed."
He yawned mid-sentence. "The only problem is... you might fall asleep if you stay too long."
Was it really that comfortable?
Watching him relax so easily only made Ais more curious.
"I'll be right back."
She turned and hurried off, leaving the door slightly ajar. Within moments, she'd returned to her room, grabbed a swimsuit, and came running back—this time locking the door behind her.
"I'm back."
The swimsuit she'd chosen didn't cover much—after all, Tsuna had said the more contact, the better.
"Tsuna, no looking," she warned, eyes narrowing slightly.
A hint of emotion flickered across her face—rare for her.
Tsuna blinked, startled by the uncharacteristic expression. Then he remembered—this was four years before the current timeline. Her usual emotionless demeanor wasn't as pronounced yet.
He quickly closed his eyes. "Don't worry, I won't look."
Ais watched him for a moment, then began undressing.
She didn't bother with modesty around him—not like she had to worry about Loki bursting in.
Her outfit at home was always light, and she preferred moving freely anyway.
Once she slipped into the swimsuit and made sure it fit properly, she turned to find Tsuna still lying there with his eyes shut.
"I'm ready."
"Then go ahead and get in," he said without opening his eyes.
"Okay."
Ais didn't hesitate. She stepped into the transparent bath and slowly lowered herself in, letting the healing liquid envelop her.
Warmth spread instantly through her body, melting away the ache in her joints. It felt so good she couldn't help letting out a soft sound.
"Mmm... this feels amazing..."
"Right? After training, this kind of warm recovery is the best," Tsuna murmured.
"Yeah."
Ais completely agreed.
With her eyes half-closed, she turned her head slightly, studying Tsuna's relaxed expression.
For the first time, she realized—Tsuna wasn't nearly as casual or careless as she'd thought.