Chapter 23: Leveling the Team

Two weeks had passed since Ethan shook Carmen's hand.

Since then, the arcade had felt the subtle shift from survival mode to something closer to structure.

It wasn't dramatic—no sudden influx of capital, no major renovations—but there was a different kind of rhythm now. A sense of intent behind every token drop, every system tweak, every quiet moment between customer visits.

Carmen had only come by once a week, as agreed. But those hours were laser-focused. She didn't waste time—she observed, asked the right questions, and left behind neat printouts of short-term improvement plans and realistic goals. No lectures. Just tools.

And now, Ethan had started using them.

The Morning Routine: Upgraded

It started with a clipboard.

Ethan still got in early—7:30 sharp most days—but now he began by walking the floor with a daily checklist:

Token levels ✅

Trash bins empty ✅

Machines dusted / screens clean ✅

Maintenance tags (check for updates) ✅

Playlist queue set ✅

Carmen's first suggestion had been simple: ritual breeds consistency.

She'd helped him make a morning startup checklist, and surprisingly, it made the day feel easier, not more corporate.

Next came the whiteboard behind the counter—a to-do wall broken into three columns:

🔧 Repairs | 📦 Inventory | 🎯 Goals

Ethan updated it every few days. Trevor had started casually adding his own notes too. Things were moving—small steps, but in a clear direction.

But Carmen's latest suggestion had stayed with Ethan more than anything else.

"If this place is going to grow, it needs a team—not just volunteers. People with roles. Ownership. Purpose."

That meant it was time to have real conversations with the people who had stood beside him since day one.

First: Amanda

They were restocking snacks in the back—mostly chips and cans of soda, plus a few healthier options now that Carmen had helped him secure a wholesale account—when Ethan brought it up.

"Amanda, can I ask you something?"

She pulled a box of orange soda from the shelf. "Sure. As long as it's not about DDR machine politics."

"Serious question," he said. "What would you think about working here? Like… officially."

She turned, brow raised. "You mean like—paid?"

"Eventually, yeah," he said. "I don't have the budget for a full salary yet, but Carmen helped me run the numbers. I could manage part-time hours, especially on busy days and weekends."

Amanda leaned against the wall, considering.

"You want me for crowd control?"

"I was thinking floor lead," Ethan said. "You're great with people. You keep things running smooth during events. I trust you to handle situations without babysitting."

Amanda smiled. "You're trying to make me a manager."

"Yeah, well, you basically already are."

She gave him a playful look, then nodded. "I'm in. Just promise I still get to yell at people when they put gum in the coin slots."

"You can have a badge for it."

Next: Trevor

Trevor was working on a stubborn joystick housing on the Metal Slug cabinet when Ethan crouched beside him.

"Hey—question."

Trevor grunted. "If it's about using tape again, no. Tape is temporary evil."

Ethan grinned. "No, it's about… expanding your role here. Officially."

Trevor paused, set his tool down.

"I've been thinking of calling it a technical assistant role," Ethan said. "You've already been helping with repairs. But I want to actually pay you for it. Not a ton, but something fair."

Trevor wiped his hands on a rag and leaned back.

"Is this where I pretend to think about it, or just say yes?"

Ethan laughed. "Whatever feels true."

"I'll take it. I mean, I love this place—and it's fun fixing stuff without a boss breathing down my neck. You trust me. That means more than the paycheck."

Ethan nodded. "Thanks, man. For everything."

Trevor grinned. "Just wait until I build us a diagnostics bench."

Finally: James

James wasn't at the arcade—he was working remotely on his own freelance projects, but Ethan messaged him and asked if they could meet for coffee that afternoon.

They sat at a small outdoor table near the corner cafe, Ethan with a caramel latte, James with a black coffee and a tablet already pulled up.

"I know you've got a lot on your plate," Ethan said, "but I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in coming on board. Even just a few hours a week."

"As… what?" James asked, tilting his head.

"Digital ops?" Ethan said. "You've been keeping tabs on social media, tournament streams, ideas for a loyalty app. With you running the digital side, I could focus more on in-person stuff."

James smiled. "So basically you want me to be your nerd translator."

"Exactly."

James nodded. "I'm in. But I want equity in the loyalty app."

Ethan blinked. "You serious?"

"No," James smirked. "But only because it's not ready to monetize yet."

They clinked coffee cups.

The crew was officially coming together.

The System Responds

That night, after the arcade closed, Ethan opened his skill interface and was surprised to see something new.

[Quest Complete – Build to Last: Phase 1]

Staff Roles Formalized

Delegation Implemented

Workflow Systems Active

Reward Unlocked: Business Basics Level 3

New Features: Staff Management Interface | Profit Optimization Tools

A new tab opened in his interface—one showing part-time roles, hourly breakdowns, shift planning templates, and budget adjustment sliders.

Underneath it, a new perk appeared:

🧠 "Operational Efficiency"

+10% passive revenue tracking accuracy

+20% morale when staff roles are clearly defined and acknowledged

Unlocks event staffing automation tools

Ethan leaned back in the counter stool, letting the screen fade as he stared at the soft glow of his arcade.

He had a team.

He had a plan.

And now?

He had a foundation.