Mia was in the middle of an intense training session, her movements precise and focused as she practiced her kicks and punches. Sweat glistened on her forehead, but she didn't seem to notice. It wasn't until Jay, watching from the sidelines, noticed a streak of red on her arm that he spoke up.

"Mia, stop for a second," Jay called out, stepping closer. "You've got a cut on your arm."

Mia paused, her breath heavy from the workout. She glanced down at the cut, surprise crossing her face. "Oh. I didn't even notice."

Jay looked at her with concern. "Seriously? You've been bleeding this whole time and didn't realize?"

Mia shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "I guess not. It must have happened during training."

Jay frowned, his worry growing. "You're really pushing yourself too hard. And here I thought the strange noises were just your pranks again."

Mia's eyes widened, and she chuckled. "Oh, so you thought I was just messing around? Well, I guess it's not all pranks today."

Jay shook his head, walking over and gently inspecting the cut. "You need to be more careful, Mia. Training hard is one thing, but not noticing injuries isn't good."

Mia looked at him, her expression softening. "Thanks for pointing it out, Jay. I guess I got a bit carried away."

Jay nodded, grabbing a first aid kit from the nearby bench. "Let's get this cleaned up and properly bandaged. You're not invincible, you know."

Mia laughed, though it was a bit strained. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't tell Kai about this. He'll have a fit."

Jay grinned as he began cleaning the cut. "Your secret's safe with me. But seriously, Mia, take it easy once in a while."

But as Mia continued her training, she felt a twinge of discomfort at the back of her foot. Glancing down, she noticed another cut that had formed from her earlier movements.

"Yeesh," she muttered, inspecting the cut. "I'm really not having the best day, am I?"

Jay, who had been observing from the sidelines, saw her wince and walked over. "Another one? Where did this one come from?"

Mia shrugged, wincing slightly as she touched the cut. "Probably from kicking or something. I guess I'm not paying enough attention."

Jay knelt down, taking a closer look. "You're pushing yourself pretty hard. Maybe you should take a break and get this treated properly."

Mia nodded, a bit more subdued now. "Yeah, I think you're right. Just... it's hard to stop when you're on a roll."

Jay handed her a clean cloth to dab at the cut. "It's important to balance hard work with self-care. You can't help anyone if you're injured."

Mia accepted the cloth, gently pressing it against the cut. "Thanks, Jay. I guess I needed a reminder."

Jay smiled, helping her clean and bandage the new injury. "No problem. Just remember, even the best need to take care of themselves."

With her latest cut tended to, Mia took a deep breath, feeling a bit more grounded. "I'll try to remember that. Thanks for always looking out for me."

Jay gave her a reassuring nod. "Anytime. Now, let's get you patched up and maybe take it easy for a bit."

But even as night fell and Mia settled into bed, she was still determined to keep up with her training. Lying in bed with her bow and arrow, she practiced her aim with a soft focus, careful not to release the arrows too forcefully. Despite the dim light, her precision was evident.

Jay, who had just walked into the room, froze as he saw Mia's makeshift archery setup. "Mia! What are you doing?"

Mia looked up from her position with a determined expression. "Practicing. Can't let a little thing like bedtime stop me, right?"

Jay's eyes widened as he noticed the arrows being notched and aimed. "You've got to be kidding me. We're in a confined space!"

Mia grinned, focusing her aim. "It's fine. I've got good control. Besides, I need to stay sharp."

Jay, glancing nervously at the arrows, quickly ducked underneath the bed's edge to avoid becoming an unintentional target. "Mia, seriously, this is not safe! You can't practice archery in here."

Mia's brow furrowed in concentration, but she paused and looked at Jay's worried face. "Oh, come on. I'm being careful."

Jay, peeking out from his hiding spot, shook his head. "Careful or not, I'd rather not risk getting hit. Can we save the archery for outside or at least somewhere less... risky?"

Mia sighed and reluctantly lowered her bow. "Fine, you win. I'll find another spot. But it's really hard to find time to practice otherwise."

Jay crawled out from under the bed, brushing himself off with a sigh of relief. "I get it, Mia. Training is important, but your safety—and mine—is too."

Mia smiled sheepishly, putting away her equipment. "Thanks for understanding, Jay. I promise I'll be more mindful."

Jay nodded, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Good. Now let's get some rest. We'll find a better spot for your archery practice."

But instead of sleeping, Mia turned her attention to practicing her kicks. She moved to a clear spot in the room, and began executing her routines with focused precision, her kicks slicing through the air with practiced ease. Each movement was controlled, but Jay, leaning on the doorframe, couldn't help but watch with a mix of concern and admiration.

"Seriously, Mia?" Jay called out, trying to keep his voice calm. "You're practicing kicks in the bedroom now?"

Mia didn't break her rhythm, her leg extending high as she executed a particularly difficult move. "It's the only space I've got right now. Besides, I need to stay sharp."

Jay sighed, his eyes following her movements. "I get that you want to train, but this is a bit extreme, don't you think? It's hard to keep an eye on you when you're practicing like this."

Mia landed gracefully from her last kick and turned to face him. "I'm not planning to break anything, Jay. I've been doing this for years. I just need to keep up my skills."

Jay stepped into the room, carefully positioning himself out of the direct path of her kicks. "I know you're skilled, but can we at least avoid making this a regular thing indoors? It's a bit nerve-wracking to see you practicing so close to things that could break."

Mia smiled, slightly out of breath but still energized. "Okay, okay. I'll try to limit my indoor practice to less... dynamic exercises. You do have a point."

Jay relaxed a bit, watching her with a mix of relief and amusement. "Thanks. I just don't want to end up with a broken lamp or something because of your kicks."

Mia laughed, stretching out her legs to cool down. "I promise I'll be more careful. But you have to admit, it's kind of impressive, right?"

Jay chuckled, shaking his head. "Impressive, definitely. Just maybe not the safest option for your room."

But even at the hour, Mia continued her practice. She decided to finish with a backflip, and with a burst of energy, she launched herself into the air, executing the move with impressive grace. However, her enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed.

Jay, who had been trying to relax and ignore the ongoing practice, couldn't help but react. "Girl, it's the middle of the night!" he called out, his voice a mix of exasperation and concern.

Mia landed with a soft thud, smiling brightly. "I know, but I've got to stay in shape. You know how it is."

Jay walked over, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Yeah, but at this hour, can't you at least give it a rest? It's not just your room; it's also my sanity."

Mia looked at him with a sheepish grin, catching her breath. "I guess I lost track of time. I just get so into it sometimes."

Jay shook his head, trying to maintain his composure. "Well, if you're determined to practice this late, can we at least make it less... noisy? Or more contained?"

Mia nodded, her smile fading slightly as she realized how disruptive she might have been. "Okay, I'll be quieter. And I'll try to stick to less intense stuff indoors."

Jay sighed with relief, giving her a supportive pat on the back. "Thanks, Mia. I just want us both to get some decent sleep."

Mia sighed and nodded.

But as the night wore on, Mia, still energized from her backflips, decided to switch things up with some push-ups. She positioned herself on the floor and began her routine, her movements steady and determined. The sound of her exertion was loud and rhythmic, reverberating through the room.

Jay, now thoroughly exasperated, pulled the blanket up over his head in a futile attempt to block out the noise. He squirmed underneath it, hoping the soft barrier would provide some relief from the relentless sounds of Mia's workout.

"Mia!" he called out from beneath the blanket, his voice muffled. "It's the middle of the night! Can't you give it a rest?"

Mia, slightly out of breath but still going strong, glanced over at him. "I'm almost done, Jay. Just a few more."

Jay groaned, his voice coming through the blanket with a touch of desperation. "I appreciate your dedication, but I'm about to lose it. I'm buried under this blanket just to get some peace!"

Mia paused her push-ups and looked concerned. "Okay, okay. I'll wrap it up. I didn't realize it was so loud."

She finished her set quickly and stood up, walking over to Jay's side of the bed. She pulled the blanket down gently, revealing Jay's frustrated but amused face.

"I'm really sorry," she said, her tone sincere. "I didn't mean to keep you up. I just get carried away sometimes."

Jay sighed, a tired smile creeping onto his face. "I know you do. And I admire your enthusiasm, I really do. But maybe next time, we can find a way to balance it out a bit better?"

Mia nodded, giving him an apologetic look. "Deal. I'll try to be more mindful of the time and the noise."

With that, Mia settled into bed next to Jay, and the room finally fell into a peaceful silence. Jay, still a bit tired but relieved, turned off the light, and they drifted to sleep.

____________________

The morning sun peeked through the curtains as Mia awoke, full of energy and ready to begin her day. She stretched and rolled out of bed, her determination clear as she prepared for her katana banishing practice. Jay, still half-asleep, groaned softly as Mia began her routine.

With precise movements, Mia grabbed her katana and moved to the center of the room. She set up her training area, making sure everything was in place. Her focus was intense as she began the series of practiced swings and banishing strikes.

Jay, now fully awake and watching from his spot on the bed, couldn't help but be both impressed and slightly exasperated. "Mia, seriously?" he said, rubbing his eyes. "It's early, and you're already at it."

Mia didn't pause her movements. "It's important, Jay. I need to stay sharp."

He sighed, shaking his head with a mix of admiration and weariness. "I know, but could you at least give it a bit of a break until after breakfast? I could use a few more minutes of peace."

Mia glanced over her shoulder, pausing for a moment. "Alright, alright. I'll finish up quickly. I just want to get this done before the day really starts."

She picked up the pace, her katana slicing through the air with fluid, practiced motions. Jay watched her, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite his tiredness. Her dedication was undeniable.

Once she finished, Mia sheathed her katana and turned to Jay. "Done! Now, how about we get some breakfast?"

Jay, grateful for the reprieve, nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds like a plan. I could definitely use some energy after all that."

As they headed to the kitchen, Mia's vibrant energy seemed to fill the space, a stark contrast to Jay's more relaxed demeanor. Despite the early start, the promise of breakfast and the warmth of the morning sun made for a hopeful beginning to the day.

Out of curiosity, Jay glanced at the clock on the wall and did a double-take. "Mia, it's only six o'clock!" he exclaimed, rubbing his eyes again.

Mia stopped mid-step, her excitement quickly fading into a sheepish grin. "Oh, um... I guess I got a bit carried away with the time. I thought it was later."

Jay shook his head, chuckling softly. "You're up so early, you're practically starting the day before it even begins. I didn't even know six o'clock existed for regular people."

Mia giggled, a bit embarrassed. "I guess I'm just too enthusiastic about my training. But now that I'm awake, I might as well make the most of it."

Jay nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "Well, since you're already up, let's make a hearty breakfast. You can't practice on an empty stomach."

They headed into the kitchen, Jay setting up for breakfast while Mia helped with enthusiasm. Despite the early hour, the morning felt fresh and full of potential. The promise of a good meal and the camaraderie between them made the early start a little easier to bear.

As they enjoyed their breakfast, Jay couldn't help but tease Mia. "Next time, let's try and make sure it's at least after the sun's fully up, alright?"

Mia laughed, nodding in agreement. "Deal. I'll try not to wake you up at the crack of dawn next time."

With that, they went back to bed, ready to sleep in some more.

But, during mid-noon, Kai needed to go out to get something from the shops. It was peaceful, but unfortunately, it wouldn't last long.

Back at home, Kai arrived to find a scene of organized chaos. Mia was in the middle of the living room, energetically backflipping and throwing arrows and daggers with impressive precision. The floor was littered with training equipment, and the air was filled with the sound of her determined movements.

Kai's eyes widened as he took in the sight. He barely had time to react before Mia performed a shoulder roll and expertly threw handcuffs onto a makeshift target. Jay, who had been watching in exasperation, finally had enough.

"Mia! What are you doing?!" Jay called out, stepping into the fray.

Mia, mid-air from another flip, looked over with a mixture of surprise and nonchalance. "Training! Can't you see? I'm just perfecting my techniques!"

Jay shook his head, looking both concerned and frustrated. "It's the middle of the day! And the living room is not your personal training ground!"

Mia landed gracefully, picking up her discarded arrows. "But I have to stay sharp. I'm on a mission to become the best warrior ever."

Kai walked over, trying to hide his amusement. "I see you're still full of energy. Maybe it's time for a break? Even the most dedicated warriors need rest."

Mia shrugged, a bit winded but still energetic. "I'm fine. Just trying to get better."

Jay sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, while you're at it, maybe find a designated training area? This is starting to look like a battlefield."

Mia looked around at the scattered equipment and the mess she had made. "Oh. I didn't think of that. But where should I train?"

Kai stepped in, offering a suggestion. "Why not use the backyard or one of the training rooms? It's safer and won't cause any issues inside the house."

Mia considered this, nodding slowly. "Alright. I'll set up a proper training area outside."

Jay smiled, relieved. "Thanks, Mia. And if you need any help organizing or setting up, just ask."

Mia grinned and gave a playful salute. "Got it! I'll be outside if you need me."

As Mia gathered her equipment and headed outside, Kai and Jay exchanged amused glances. The energy and enthusiasm Mia brought were admirable, but it was clear she needed a bit of guidance on managing her training space.

Jay turned to Kai, who was still chuckling. "Thanks for stopping by. I don't know what I'd do without your help."

Kai smiled, patting Jay on the back. "Just doing my part. And hey, it's never boring around here."

Then, a ball came through the door, and they heard Mia yell, " Sorry!"