Grant the Grapefruit did not walk.

Grant rolled into Julian Jellybean’s hideout, which was technically an abandoned break room but had been redecorated with beanbag chairs, neon signs, and a suspicious number of sticky notes that said “DON’T COMPLY.”

Julian Jellybean lounged upside down in a swivel chair, spinning slowly.

“So,” Julian said, grinning, “to what do I owe the citrus emergency?”

Grant adjusted his sunglasses.

“They tried to give me… a point.”

Julian stopped spinning.

“…They WHAT?”

Grant nodded gravely. “Jeff Jelly. Allen Apple. Clipboard energy. Whole system.”

Julian sat upright. “Oh no. Not the point system.”

“They said I was ‘late,’” Grant continued. “I was spiritually present.”

Julian gasped. “That’s discrimination.”

Grant leaned in. “I need help.”

Julian smiled — the kind of smile that usually preceded chaos, paperwork, and regret.

“You’ve come to the right bean.”

Back at Snackland HQ, Jeff Jelly and Allen Apple stood proudly in front of a freshly rebooted board:

POINT SYSTEM 2.0

Fair

Balanced

Definitely Functional

Allen clapped. “We fixed the bugs.”

Jeff nodded. “No loopholes this time.”

That’s when the lights flickered.

Music started playing.

Smooth. Funky. Unapproved.

Grant rolled in first, sunglasses glowing under the fluorescents.

Behind him bounced Julian Jellybean, dragging a rolling cart labeled:

“POINT SYSTEM STRESS TEST.”

Jeff squinted. “Why is he here?”

Julian waved. “I’m a consultant.”

Allen frowned. “We didn’t approve—”

Julian slapped a sticker on the board.

POINT SYSTEM: OPTIONAL

The board beeped.

Then blinked.

Then accepted it.

Jeff gasped. “That’s not how—”

Grant rolled forward. “LET’S TEST.”

Grant intentionally stood still.

Julian hit a button.

A buzzer sounded.

POINT AWARDED: GRANT THE GRAPEFRUIT

REASON: EXISTING CONFIDENTLY

Grant nodded. “Unacceptable.”

Julian flipped another switch.

POINT REMOVED: REASON — VIBES IMMACULATE

The board hummed… and complied.

Allen’s clipboard trembled. “Why is it listening to him?”

Julian shrugged. “I asked nicely.”

Grant rolled closer. “What about Jeff?”

Julian typed.

POINT AWARDED: JEFF JELLY

REASON: TRYING TOO HARD

Jeff yelled, “HEY!”

Julian smiled. “System’s fair.”

Allen rushed forward. “This violates every rule!”

Julian leaned back. “Rules are just points with confidence.”

Grant laughed so hard he nearly tipped over.

The board began flashing:

ERROR

ERROR

POINT SYSTEM SELF-REFLECTING

Smoke puffed out.

Jeff panicked. “SHUT IT DOWN!”

Julian pressed one last button.

The board updated itself:

POINT SYSTEM STATUS: RETIRED

REASON: ASKED TOO MANY QUESTIONS

Silence.

Grant removed his sunglasses.

“Union break?” he asked.

Jeff collapsed into a chair. “I just wanted order.”

Julian patted his shoulder. “You got chaos. Happens.”

Allen stared at the dead board.

“…We can’t enforce anything now.”

Grant rolled toward the exit.

“Exactly.”

Julian followed, whistling.

As they left, the board flickered one final time:

POINTS REMAINING: NONE

EXCEPT FOR VIBES

Jeff looked at Allen.

“…Part 3 is going to be worse, isn’t it?”

Allen nodded.

“Much worse.”