The day of the competition arrived quickly, and as always, the tension was higher than ever. The contestants left were fewer now, and everyone who made it this far had worked hard to stay. At this stage, nobody wanted to be eliminated.

Most of the contestants were from big labels, so they had songs written and arranged for them. But the likes of Maya, Dayo, Min-Jae, and a few others were doing everything on their own. They wrote, composed, and produced their own songs.

The contestants sat together to eat breakfast, though the air felt different. Normally, there would be small talks around and some even talking about Dayo as it was still a hot topic, but this morning, no one had time for gossip. Everyone was too focused, nervous, and lost in thought about their own performances.

Dayo sat with his friends Min-Jae, Maya, Emily, and Misha. The table was quiet, only the sound of spoons and forks clinking against plates. Maya was mumbling her lyrics under her breath. Min-Jae tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table as if rehearsing his beats.

Dayo, however, just sat calmly, lost in thought. He wasn't thinking about lyrics or the performance. His mind was on a bigger plan — how to handle the situation that had almost flipped his career upside down. He had spent nearly the entire week in the studio, preparing and perfecting what was to come. His friends had even complained that he barely left the studio, but he just told them he was working on something important. He was building something meant to turn the tide.

After their meal, one of the staff members announced that it was time to leave. Everyone stood up and started moving toward the buses that would take them to the venue.

The bus ride was quiet at first. Most of the contestants had headphones on, reviewing their songs and notes. Dayo sat by the window, staring at the passing streets of Casablanca. The tall buildings, the colorful culture, and people — everything reminded him of how far he had come and how close he was to something great.

Min-Jae, sitting beside him, glanced his way. "You good, bro?"

Dayo nodded slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Emily, who sat in front of them, turned around in her seat. "You sure? With all that's been going on… I mean, it's a lot. Even for someone like you."

Dayo smiled faintly. "I'll be fine."

Maya leaned forward, joining in. "We're not trying to worry you or anything. We just want to be sure you're okay. There's going to be a huge crowd today — probably fifteen, maybe twenty thousand people. That's a lot of eyes. And with everything happening online…" she paused, choosing her words carefully. "You know what I mean."

Dayo looked out the window for a second, then back at her, then smiled. "Pressure's part of the job," he said quietly. "And I can't allow the situation to break me, as that would do no good."

Emily frowned softly. "You haven't said a word about any of it. Everyone's talking, the internet's a mess — yet you've been silent. Why?"

Maya nodded. "Yeah. I've known you long enough to know you're not guilty, obviously, and also you're not the type to hide. So why keep quiet now?"

Dayo exhaled slowly before answering. "Because sometimes, silence speaks louder. There are moments where talking only adds fuel to the fire. You have to wait for the right time before you move. And when you do, it quenches the fire."

They all looked at each other and came to an understanding that Dayo had everything under control. So they didn't press further. They knew Dayo well enough to understand that once he made up his mind, nothing could shake it.

After a few minutes, Min-Jae chuckled lightly to break the silence. "Well, if you've got it handled, then I guess we don't have to worry. Just don't forget to breathe when you get on stage, man."

Dayo laughed softly. "I won't."

Maya smiled too. "Good. Then let's all give it our best shot today."

"Agreed," Emily said, raising a small fist like a cheer.

The mood lightened after that. They talked briefly about their songs, about how long the judges might take, and who was performing first.

When the bus finally pulled into the venue, the Mohammed VI Theatre. The bus stopped in front of its tall, elegant entrance. White walls, narrow windows with old-style arches, and a marquee that already showed their names in lights. People sometimes call it one of the best live performance theatres in Casablanca. It didn't hold tens of thousands, but everything about it had history. Big names had performed there — dramas, concerts, international acts. It was known to be intimate, powerful, with sound that carried and a stage that felt alive.

The contestants looked out the window in awe at the massive theater. The lights, the stage setup, the banners, and the sea of people were already filling the seats. The crowd was easily over twenty thousand strong, maybe more.

At this stage of the competition, the audience would be allowed to watch but not videos.

As they stepped down from the bus, cheers echoed across the parking area — but not all of them were pleasant.

Some fans screamed in excitement when they saw their favorite contestants, waving banners and flags. But when Dayo stepped out, the noise toned down a bit as many fans recognized him and a wave of murmurs and boos rippled through the crowd.

"There he is!" someone shouted.

"That's the guy from the news!"

"He shouldn't even be here!"

"Kick him out!"

Dayo kept walking, face calm, eyes forward. He didn't look left or right. He knew some fans were still cheering for him — their voices mixed in the chaos — but he couldn't focus on that now.

The staff quickly guided the contestants through a side entrance to avoid the press and crowd. Inside, the backstage area buzzed with energy. Technicians moved around with equipment, stage managers gave instructions, and contestants waited nervously for their turn.

As Dayo walked through the hallway. He was focused on what mattered — the stage, the song, and the message he was about to send.

He went to make a quick call.

"Hello, is everything set?"

The familiar voice from the other side answered

"Yes, you just do what you do best."

Dayo nodded, "Okay, I have to go now."

When he finally reached the waiting area, he found his seat with his group. The performances were about to start — the sound of the MC's voice from the stage could be heard as he greeted the fans.

Dayo leaned back, closed his eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath. Everything around him — the tension, the noise, the rumors — began to fade in his mind. All that was left was the sound of his heartbeat and the calm voice inside him whispering:

"This is it. Time to turn everything around."

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