Chapter 14: How Can I Reach the Next Level?

**Chapter 14: How Can I Reach the Next Level?**

After an intense training session led by All Might for Class 1-A, the students were dismissed and sent home. For Yahari, that night was different—his first bout with insomnia. No matter how much he shifted or turned in his bed, comfort eluded him. It felt as though his bed had changed, his pillow refusing to offer any rest. When the clock struck 4:00 AM, he sighed into the stillness of the night and muttered, "I didn't know losing could feel this bad..."

The rest of the week passed in a blur of routine at the academy. No major events or rigorous training followed, and each day slipped by quietly. Yet, on Saturday morning, precisely at 7:00 AM, Yahari found himself sitting on the wooden steps of his house, lacing up his white sneakers. His mother, rubbing her sleepy eyes, spotted him and asked, "What are you up to this early?"

Dressed in a simple white t-shirt beneath a grey open jacket, with black athletic pants and a small backpack slung over his shoulder, Yahari looked sharp. "I need to visit Grandpa. I'll be back by tomorrow evening," he said, walking towards the door.

After he left, his mother stood for a moment in the silence, wondering aloud, "I thought the training was over since he got accepted into the academy?"

The journey to his grandfather's countryside home was long—130 kilometers away. Yahari took a bus for the first 110 kilometers, but for the last stretch of 20 kilometers, he ran through a forested path. His footsteps echoed across the forest floor, his breathing heavy, and beads of sweat formed on his brow. The forest was peaceful, the tall trees whispering their secrets to the wind, while the early morning sunlight filtered through the branches, casting a beautiful pattern of light and shadow on the ground.

By the time Yahari arrived at his grandfather's house, his body was nearly spent. His legs moved sluggishly, like a zombie, barely supporting his weight. It was 9:30 AM, and his grandfather was already outside, chopping wood. Noticing Yahari's weary appearance, drenched in sweat, his grandfather greeted him with a broad smile, his white teeth gleaming. "Looks like someone's found a new motivation. I thought I wouldn't see you on weekends anymore," he teased.

Panting heavily, Yahari trudged towards him, his voice strained. "Grandpa, this isn't enough... I need more. I want another level. I still feel powerless..."

His grandfather paused, wiping his hands on his pants, and placed a hand on Yahari's shoulder. "Working hard without a plan won't help you, Yahari. It's good to see you want to push yourself, but not like this. Seeing others more talented than you shouldn't discourage you—it should drive you to surpass them. Ask yourself: what can rubber do? You need to accept that you *are* rubber and start thinking creatively. Invent skills, techniques unique to you. When you do that, then you can work on refining them."

Yahari's eyes glistened with determination, but doubt lingered in his voice as he said, "Creating unique skills? That doesn't sound easy at all."

His grandfather chuckled, tossing the axe to the ground. "Of course, it's not easy. How do you think you'll reach the next level? You need to break through your current ideas of your ability, surpass them, and think of new ways to use your power. It's not something that will happen overnight. Come, take a shower and have some coffee first. The training we're doing for the next two days is more mental than physical. You need to merge your thoughts with your abilities. That's the key to unlocking the next level of your power."

As Yahari looked up at the calm blue sky, dotted with a few clouds, he felt as though the path to the next level of his power was invisible—an elusive threshold he had yet to step onto.

The next two days passed without any concrete answers. Yahari spent most of his time meditating, reflecting on his body and his abilities from various angles and perspectives. Yet, no breakthrough came.

On Monday, Class 1-A boarded a bus to the USJ facility for a joint training session. Their instructors, Mr. Aizawa, Space Hero: Thirteen, and All Might, were supposed to supervise the exercise. However, All Might stayed behind in the principal's office, too drained to maintain his heroic form.

While most of the students buzzed with excitement about the rescue training ahead, Yahari sat in silence, lost in thought, still pondering how he could reach the next level of his power.

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