The Markets almost always move in the direction everyone least expects (thereby creating the most pain to the most people in the process, just the way it works, I did not make the rules).
In this case the way to maximum pain may very well be to continue to show signs of improvement.
I know that’s an odd theory.
Note: In addition, what would cause the max pain would be for retail investors to give-up based on fear they are being left behind and go all-in just as the market peaks, which kind of looks like what is starting to happen. (I am still on the side but feeling the pain of watching everything just seem to go up myself ). I guess time will tell.