After getting dressed, Hayashi went alone to his 'private' kitchen. It was already quite late, so he felt it would be inappropriate to go to the cafeteria to get ingredients, where there was no one around.
However, in his own kitchen, he still had some noodles, along with seasonings and side dishes—cooking a bowl of noodles would be simple.
By the time Yuji Itadori arrived, Hayashi had already started cooking the noodles.
Just as he had expected, Megumi Fushiguro came along, and even Nobara Kugisaki joined, although she looked somewhat sleepy, but she still showed up.
"You guys, it's already past eleven at night, and instead of sleeping, you're making me have a late-night snack," Nobara grumbled.
"You're the one who insisted on coming. I did ask you earlier," Yuji interrupted before she could finish.
Indeed, Nobara had been ready to sleep, but when she heard Yuji mention that Hayashi was making late-night noodles, she couldn't resist. Even though she was tired, she was more curious to try Hayashi's cooking, especially after three guys had praised his skills.
"So, is the midnight snack ready?" Fushiguro's gaze fell on the noodles Hayashi was cooking.
The noodles had just been put in the pot, so it would be a little while longer.
"You guys go sit over there for a bit. It'll be ready soon," Hayashi smiled, his hands still busy at work.
The three sat down, all of them initially feeling drowsy, but after smelling the aroma of the noodles, they suddenly became more alert.
"Smells so good," Nobara's nose twitched as she instinctively swallowed, realizing that the rumors about Hayashi's cooking might actually be true, based on the scent alone.
Yuji and Fushiguro were also affected, though since they had already eaten Hayashi's food before, their reaction wasn't as exaggerated as Nobara's. However, there was no denying the fragrance was irresistible.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Hayashi said as he brought the noodles over. He served Nobara first, then Fushiguro and Yuji, and finally sat down with his own bowl.
Nobara looked down at the simple bowl of noodles. She couldn't imagine what could make it so special, but the aroma was undeniable. She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite.
The texture was soft yet chewy, and the rich flavor exploded in her mouth, sending waves of satisfaction through her. It was an overwhelming, deeply fulfilling feeling.
"This is amazing!" Nobara exclaimed, finding it hard to describe the flavor. Her face flushed with delight.
It looked like a simple bowl of noodles, not as colorful or fancy as those you'd find in a restaurant, but the impression it left was profound. Nobara felt this was the best bowl of noodles she had ever tasted.
"It's so good!" Yuji said, downing his entire bowl in one go, even drinking the soup. "So tasty! Not enough—I want more!"
"You ate that fast?" Nobara was startled, looking at Yuji's empty bowl. She glanced at her own bowl, which still had plenty of noodles left, deciding she would take her time and savor it.
Fushiguro, as usual, said nothing, but the way he silently kept eating made it clear enough.
Hayashi finally began eating his own noodles. Meanwhile, Yuji sat there watching the others with envy, having finished too quickly. What was supposed to be a small snack had only made him hungrier.
Nobara finished her bowl down to the last drop of broth. Honestly, it was rare to see a young woman eat a bowl of noodles so thoroughly, leaving nothing behind.
Afterward, Nobara realized she had eaten a bit too cleanly and felt slightly embarrassed.
"Hayashi, I didn't realize you had such cooking skills. Why didn't you bring me a bowl of noodles when I lived upstairs from you?" Nobara's stomach had been thoroughly won over by Hayashi's food.
"Back then, I was just happy you didn't hit me! How would I have dared to bring you noodles?" Hayashi joked, remembering that whenever Nobara returned, she always seemed to have already eaten.
"Am I really that scary?" Nobara felt a little self-conscious, recalling her past cold attitude toward Hayashi.
"Don't worry about it. I'm not someone who holds grudges, right, Yuji? Fushiguro?" Hayashi laughed, looking toward the other two.
"Yeah, yeah!" Yuji nodded vigorously. "Yep," Fushiguro replied in his usual reserved manner.
"Hey, Yuji, why don't you wash the dishes? I'm going back to sleep," Hayashi said, stretching as he stood up.
"Fushiguro, help me out?" Yuji asked, already knowing from the moment they started eating that he'd be the one washing up, but still hoping to drag Fushiguro along.
"You can handle this many dishes by yourself," Fushiguro replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "The noodles were great, by the way."
"Don't even think about pushing it on me. What, you want this beautiful young lady to help you with the dishes?" Nobara scoffed at Yuji.
"Beautiful? What kind of beautiful girl is this fierce?" Yuji grumbled, stacking the bowls together.
"What did you just say!?" Nobara, now fully awake from her meal, immediately tried to smack Yuji on the head.
"Alright, alright, let's go to bed. Don't wake up Gojo-sensei, or I'll have to make another bowl of noodles," Hayashi said, quickly steering Nobara away.
After the three of them left, Yuji was left alone in the kitchen to wash the dishes. But he didn't mind at all, knowing that noodles like Hayashi's would cost a fortune if bought outside.
A few days later, Hayashi had fully mastered his new ability: Cursed Energy Release. This skill had proven to be incredibly useful since acquiring it.
First, it expanded his perception, allowing him to sense things at a greater distance, although the details were vague and blurred. It was like having a built-in sensor.
Second, within his sensory range, Hayashi could manipulate objects using his cursed energy. For example, he could make trash on the floor float into the garbage bin, turn off a desk lamp, or open the refrigerator with cursed energy alone.
He even managed to make Yuji, who was shirtless, put on a shirt, although that proved a bit more challenging.
With practice, Hayashi's control over Cursed Energy Release had become more refined and precise.
The most important aspect, however, was that Cursed Energy Release allowed him to increase the purity of his cursed energy and even launch attacks with it. This meant Hayashi could throw a punch, and even if his fist didn't make physical contact, the released cursed energy could form an afterimage of the punch that would strike the target.
Essentially, it was like extending the range of his attacks, allowing him to safely strike from a distance while still delivering powerful blows.
He could also combine this technique with his Cursed Energy Armor, creating a two-layered defense that was much stronger than before.
As for whether there were more hidden capabilities of Cursed Energy Release, Hayashi hadn't figured them all out yet, but what he had discovered was already more than enough.
One of Hayashi's goals in coming to Jujutsu High was to learn advanced jujutsu techniques. Combining what he learned here with his own abilities would allow him to reach new heights of power.
However, Hayashi knew it wouldn't be appropriate to immediately ask Gojo-sensei to teach him jujutsu after just arriving. He planned to bring it up after a little more time had passed.
What Hayashi didn't realize, though, was that jujutsu techniques and innate techniques were typically engraved into a person's body at birth, making it nearly impossible to learn them later in life.