I will now introduce the main antagonist of the story, aka the main rival manager who runs the Stun Burger across the street (And no, this is not the same person who was watching Micah from afar from chapter 2).

The date is 5:00 pm, May 30, 2022, and it was just another normal workday in Burpin' Burger with the 2 exceptions of closing hours now being at 6 PM instead of 8 and the entrance door remaining open due to the lack of A.C.. The number of customers have drastically changed with about only 10 people coming instead of 30 every now and then. Despite that, the employees still put in effort to complete their roles until the time closes.

Sasha and Stella, whom the latter got a better sized employee uniform to wear, were both spraying and wiping the front counter after juices, oil, and salt remained on after some customers chose to receive their orders up front instead of having it brought to their tables, Lincoln was flipping patties while Harry just started his respective new batch, Zach was carrying two trays of orders and transported them to two booths of customers, Rusty still establishes himself as a great employee at the drive thru speaker, Clyde was managing the cash and gave back whatever change was leftover, Caleb was checking the fridge inventory to ensure everyone can restock their respective stations, Liam was assembling the burgers for the orders he has at the moment, other co-workers were doing their own roles, and finally Micah, as supervisor, he just finished doing an overall check with his co-workers to see how their doing.

Micah then sat in Mr. Croystin's office to give the current update of everyone. " . . .so currently Caleb said our stock inventory is running low and we still don't have an A.C. to replace. Those are the only problems we have, Sir."

Mr. Croystin responded by groaning and pinching the brink of his nose. "While I can deal with the inventory situation, Micah," he looked right into Micah so their eyes met. "turns out all A.C.s on the internet have either been sold or just aren't good quality."

"What about indoor shopping?" Micah suggested.

"Even if I did I'm unable to," Mr. Croystin leans back into his chair. "reason being is because net profit was already low due to the slight increase of tax. I didn't want to tell anyone other than Grant about this because I didn't want them to worry. I may be manager, but even the boss has struggles."

Micah nods in agreement. "I can already feel some of that Sir."

Mr. Croystin sighs. "I'll check again for good deals for A.C.s if the income rises. In the meantime, I ask you guys to deal with it for now. Can you do that?" Micah looks down disappointed but nods in agreement. He then proceeds to leave his manager's office. "Oh yeah, Micah, one more thing?" Micah turns back to hear what his manager has to say. "Do me a favor and not open up a lemonade stand for extra cash; It'll be bad for your health if you overwork yourself. You got that?"

"Yes Sir." he then leaves Mr. Croystin's office, closing the door behind him.

Micah pours himself a water cup and leans onto the outside part of the counter. He observes his surroundings to see no new customers coming through the door or the drive-thru. Because of that, the employees don't have any work in their hands. After taking a gulp, he lets out a sigh. "I shouldn't be feeling this right now, I have to keep-"

"Hey Micah," Grant was leaning on the counter to Micah's right side. "Did Mr. Croystin tell you?"

Micah nods in response. "Yeah, why did it have to be tax that is making us drop us down a little?"

"Don't know how that works in the slightest." Grant looks to the 12-year old. "Say, how come you're not talking to Lincoln and his friends?"

Micah looks to the six of them in the kitchen, who were all talking with each other, and sighs. He takes a sip of water and looks back to grant. "Well, Lincoln had a run in with some bullies and said something about humiliation that resulted in him and his friends getting summer jobs here. He didn't want to talk about it si-"

'Fry', wearing a black tracksuit, suddenly entered Burpin Burger' and was breathing heavily. "I GOT IT!" All the employees, including Mr. Croystin, draw their attention to the dim-witted blond adult in the center of the fast fast restaurant. "I ACTUALLY GOT IT!"

Mr. Croystin was starting to become irritated. "Got what 'Fry'? You should've been deep-frying fries, not leaving your position and sneaking out of work."

"Mr. Croystin, it was all worth it." He takes out something the size of a tennis ball wrapped in tin foil. "For I have stolen a Stun Burger burger!"

Everyone turned white and was silent for a moment from what they just heard. "WHAAAAAAT! 'FRY', WHAT WERE YOU THINKIIIINNG!"

'Fry' was taken aback by their shouting but proceeded to talk. "Please guys, allow me to sho-"

Mr. Croystin whacks him by the top of his head in anger. "You idiot! Just because we have competition, doesn't mean you should steal someone else's product! You can get us in trouble! Oh, or worse, you can get me in trouble! Me!"

"But-" Before he could explain, everyone could see someone shining coming from the door entrance.

To everyone's shock, the shine lessened to see a man in his 30s, no beard, and a cool comb over hairstyle. He's wearing light brown khakis, a black collar shirt with a yellow lightning bolt displayed diagonally across from right shoulder to left sided waist containing silver borders where the shine reflects from, black business shoes, a silver watch, and silver sunglasses. He also had a few people, who were wearing the same uniform, behind him to back him up

Once the man enters the place, he looks around and observes the building's interior before speaking. "Ahh! It seems I came to the right time, place, and moment haven't I?" The man's presence made the employees look away in annoyance but the man's attitude didn't change.

"What? You're not that welcoming of people?" He then took his sunglasses off to reveal his brown eyes. "How about I brighten the mood for you all? I am Mr. Relgez, the ma-"

He was cut off by Mr. Croystin who is feeling irritated. "The manager of the Stun Burger across the street that's not even open yet." He stood in front of 'Fry' and looked into the eyes of his competitor. "It's a waste of time to brag about it to our faces, Relgaz. Look whatever my coworker stole we-"

Mr. Relgaz smirked "Don't bother about it, I assumed one of your guys might've stolen one of our 'stunning' products eventually. I knew because I'm just going to give it to you straight. To me, you guys are bottom feeders. Those who can only strive by eating the remains left by those superior to you."

"Your logic is just ironic to me." Mr. Croystin stated. "You're saying you're ranked higher than us yet you're just a manager of the one thing I have my employees work in." Mr. Croystin's response only just makes Mr. Relgaz scoff at what he heard.

"Well, at least this bottom feeder gets to work under a fast food CHAIN while your restaurant is just one alone without any branches operating anywhere else." Seeing how his competitors can't argue with that, Mr. Relgaz continued to talk. "Anyway, obviously less people have been coming here for one reason. Tomorrow is the opening day for Stun Burger." He can see that Mr. Croystin and his employees were taken aback by that. "And as soon as people start to like what MY employees cook, they'll stop coming to this place and it'll eventually become another fast food restaurant closed just like the rest before you. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get myself ready for the Stun Burger's opening premiere tomorrow so . . .Adios!" He left with his goons in tow.

All Mr. Croystin could gain was only more stress from unfortunate events happening in his life. He then faced 'Fry with a pissed off face.'"'Fry', we're having a major talk when the day's over!" He then proceeded to head back into his office until he and his employees saw Mr. Relgaz popping his face back inside.

"FYI, you guys can keep the stun burger your boy stole. You'll understand its power once you try it." He then left and closed the doors behind him.

Mr. Croystin looks back to 'Fry'. "Major talk!" He then heads back into his office.

Once his manager disappeared, 'Fry' then walked up to Micah who never left his position and spoke in a soft tone. "Here." He gave the Stun Burger to Micah. "You're the only person who goes into depth with food often. I believe your knowledge can keep Burpin' Burger open." He can see Micah's confused look on his face. "Look, I may not be bright, but my heart's in the right place. I mean, I'm still breathing after all." He then left to head to his station, leaving Micah with an unimpressed look on his face.

Grant could understand how Micah is feeling right now. "Hey, at least he means well." He then patted Micah's back and went back to work.

As Micah observed his competitor's burger, Harry, Caleb, and Sasha (who's holding her cleaning mop in her hands) all came up to him on the opposite side of the counter from where he was. "What are you waiting for Micah?" Harry asked. "Try it and see how it tastes?"

"I don't know guys, I feel like I rather not know."

"Come on, one bite wouldn't hurt right?" Caleb said confidently.

"Caleb's right." Sasha added. "If you'll know it's ingredients, then you'll know if that Relgaz guy was exaggerating or not."

Micah turned his eyes to Lincoln and his friends who were standing from afar listening while the white-haired kid nodded to take a bite. Micah then nodded to his co-workers with confidence and opened the wrap to let the smell out. He then took a deep breath and took a bite. After some chewing, the next thing Micah felt was nothing but 'shock'. He then took a deep gulp and gasped for breath.

Harry felt a bit awkward from feeling his breath. "Well?"

Micah looks at his coworkers with disappointment and sighs. "The burger has no cap, Relgaz's burgers are legitly better." His response gave the three with corresponding looks on their faces

Sasha's hands trembled a little. "Is there a reason why it is such?"

Micah looked at her face-to-face with suspicion causing her to blush. "Do you really want me to explain the reasons as well as a full explanation of the burger's interiors and how it's handled?"

As her face turned pure red with sweats coming down her face, Sasha shook her head no really fast. "Uh! N . . .NO! No, it's fine." She turns her face away with embarrassment. "Although you can just answer in a short sentence. I mean there's no reason to be going into depth and all." She continued being flustered as Harry and Caleb watched on from where they were standing feeling awkward.

Micah then goes back to his personal space. "Right." He agreed. "All I can say is that when you take a bite, you can feel a surge of electricity soaring through your body for a few seconds. Just like what the narcissist said."

Harry sighs from hearing that. "That's a bummer, even competitors can be honest with their rivals." He then turns away to head back to his station.

Caleb follows in tow. "Um . . .Harry? The way you said it means frenemies."

Sasha looks at Micah with sympathy with her cheeks turning a little pink. "At least you know your enemy across the street." She gave him a weak smile before retrieving her cleaning bucket and walked past him to clean the booths.

As Micah became a little depressed, all Lincoln and his friends could do was look at him with some sympathy.

Rusty said. "Well, it may have been sad but I'm sure he'll get over it tomorrow." He then heads back to his station with Clyde, Zach, and Stella doing the same but with more sympathy.

Liam puts a hand on Lincoln's shoulder. "Hey Linc," He said as Lincoln turned to face his friend. "I think you should go talk to Micah."

Lincoln turns to face his friend. "Liam, as much as I want to, I still don't feel it today. I'll try tomorrow. I promise." As Lincoln started to head to the grill section, Liam called out to him.

"At least maybe tell me what happened exactly after you defeated Chandler and his friends? I think I can help you with whatever happened between you and Micah."

Lincoln didn't really want to talk about it, but eventually gave in due to wanting to be Micah's friend again. So he turned around to face him and proceeded to explain the aftermath.

(Yesterday, Set right after where last chapter took off)

Micah had just finished "Jopping"; the Korean-Pop song that he was dancing to and was panting after triumphantly scoring high on his first try. "Whoo!" He exclaimed. "Lincoln, you were right! I actually do need that water. . ." He turns around to see that Lincoln is not beside him.

"Lincoln?" he called out to him. "Hey, where did you go?!" He then left the game station not even bothering to answer if he wanted to keep going.

After passing several arcade games, including one called Space Invaders Frenzy, he made his way towards the Ice Bar where he sees a cup of water. He was about to grab it until he saw the men's restroom door open with the person he was looking for coming out. He then starts walking towards him. "Gosh, Lincoln, where were you?" he asked. "I thought you said that you'd come-" He didn't finish as Lincoln walked right past him. Micah turned around, feeling surprised. "Hey wait, I'm still talking to you." He started to follow where the white haired kid was going. He saw Lincoln's face that displays that he's feeling shameful for some reason.

"Yeah sorry," he said as he secretly grabbed a soda drink cup and lid, put his tokens inside it, and faced Micah. "But plans have changed, can I see your tokens?"

Micah did so, only for Lincoln to place them in the same cup, closed the lid, and secretly hid it between two cabinets. "Lincoln, what's going on?" he asked.

Lincoln proceeded to head towards the exit. "Arcade gaming's over, we have to leave now."

"What?! Hey?!" Micah started to follow him, only to stop, grabbed the water cup, drank it quickly, threw the cup away, grabbed his skateboard, and ran back to follow Lincoln outside as the sky turned orange. "Wait, don't just dodge the question! I want to know!" He caught up to the white-haired kid, in the side of the parking lot, who was texting his Dad to come get him early, and grabbed his shoulder to turn him around.

"Why should you know?!" he shouted. "That my actions led to me and my friends going into debt and working at Burpin' Burger? Is that the answer you're looking for?!"

Micah was taken aback from Lincoln's shouting. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "All I know is that you and your friends' papers said that you caused several car crashes due to chasing some dog."

"Yeah, which I started," he said. "My friends tried to encourage me to ask my crush out, which went awry due to dog interference."

"A what now?"

"A crush!" Lincoln repeated. "Someone you admire so much that you want to be closer to that person than others are." He then groaned in frustration. "Look, that's not the point here. I'm saying that due to that dog interfering with my moment in asking my crush, named Girl Jordan, to hang out, that cost me and my friends our summers to relax in. Are you following?" Micah nods in confirmation.

Lincoln continued talking but with a smoother tone this time. "Not only that, but we were also humiliated on the internet. You see, while my friends were trying to free me and my backpack from the dog's grip, people around us found it amusing so they recorded the scene and posted it on their social media accounts. That also got me confronted by bullies that I had to defend myself in the restroom just now." He then sighs in remorse. "Worst case scenario, I lost all chances to be with the girl I like in school." He then turns to face Micah who was listening to what he was telling him. "She's nice, pretty, smart, but also out of my league since girls, with the exception of Stella, wouldn't want to hang out or be friends with a kid with white hair. Do you understand now what I've been going through recently?"

Micah shrugs before saying. "Well, sort of. But, this "crush" of yours, if you really want to hang out with her, shouldn't you still try anyway instead of straying away from the opportunity?"

Lincoln Looks away and sighs. "Yeah," he said. "That's what my friends would've also said. However, she also witnessed what happened to me that day so I'm unsure if she still reciprocates how I feel about her."

Micah was about to say something else until he saw his family van drive up in front of them. Lynn Sr. then opened his window and the second row door. "Hey kiddo, are you feeling alright?" he asked with concern.

"Everything went ok." Lincoln said as he got into the van and shut the door behind him. "I just want to go home early."

Lynn Sr. looked at Micah with confusion. "Did you guys even have a good time?"

Micah nodded. "Oh it did, he just went depressed when something from the past came back to him."

Lynn Sr. looks to his son and then back to Micah. "You wanna come? I can drop you off at your place."

"It's alright Mr. Loud, I can skateboard my way back home safely. But thanks for the offer though."

"Alright." He then proceeded to drive off. "See you tomorrow kid."

With the van out of view, Micah sighs in sadness and proceeds to skateboard back home.

A block away, however, Girl Jordan was hiding behind a tree listening to all the talk that had been happening. While she felt the regret of just watching the humiliation happen instead of helping out, she also felt heart racing as her cheeks started to turn red. "Dang it Girl Jordan! How could you be so blind?!You should've known he liked you for a long time, yet you decided to stay quiet and now he's stuck working to pay off his debt!" She then walks away in the opposite direction, trying to collect herself in the hopes she'll be ready to talk to Lincoln when the time is right.

AN: Yes, I ship Lincoln and Girl Jordan together. This will be a side arc for the story that I'm really going to enjoy writing about.

I can assure you guys that the next chapter will be uploaded much sooner than how long I usually upload. The next chapter will also have a quick opening of Stun Burger as well as Lincoln trying to reconcile with the main protagonist of this AU.