Chapter 22 – A Perfect Match
Two days flew by, and Dayo finally stepped out of his quiet retreat, refreshed and satisfied. He had done it — written lyrics that matched the sound in his head perfectly. The moment his phone powered on, it buzzed nonstop with missed calls and messages, but what made him freeze was seeing over a dozen missed calls from Urich.
And among them, one name stood out.
"Urich," Dayo muttered. The man had called him more than a dozen times.
Confused but curious, he immediately called back. The line barely rang once before Urich's deep voice cut in sharply.
"Dayo, where have you kept your phone?"
"Hmmm," Dayo hummed cautiously. "Hope all is well?"
"Yeah," Urich replied, though his tone carried urgency. "I just need a small favor from you."
"Oh? So what can I do for you?"
"One of my artists is struggling — a serious case of artist's block. Nothing in our label's catalog suits her. I don't know if you can help me out?"
Dayo leaned back, intrigued. "Hmm… well, sure. Just know you owe me one. Haha."
There was silence on the line. Urich paused, stunned by how easily Dayo accepted. For someone so young, his confidence bordered on unreal.
"Very well," Urich finally said. "You should know her — her name is Luna."
"Oh, alright. I can't promise you when, but I'll definitely get back to you," Dayo said, hiding the fact that he had heard of Luna but doesn't know her per say.
"Alright, Dayo. Just hurry a bit. I'm in a tight spot right now."
"Hmm… alright."
The moment the call ended, curiosity got the better of him. Dayo sat down and began researching Luna. Within minutes, he'd gone through her discography, her online presence, and even some fan commentary. She was is a powerhouse artist by any measure. Her career had been spotless, with almost no flops, until recently. Her latest singles had underperformed, and to Dayo, they sounded forced.
He replayed her voice recordings over and over, listening to the texture and emotion in her tone. That's when the realization hit him — her issue wasn't her talent; it was her style.
"Ah," Dayo murmured, smirking. "She's evolved."
It wasn't uncommon. Exceptional artists often hit a wall when they outgrew their old sound but haven't yet found a new one. It explained why her recent songs lacked soul — they no longer fit who she had become.
Determined, Dayo decided to put his newest system skill to the test.
DING
Skill: Perfect Feature
Song:Hall of Fame
Artist: Luna
Compatibility: 99%
Dayo blinked at the screen, stunned. He had only intended to test the feature, but seeing a near-perfect compatibility score made him grin. "Looks like fate agrees," he whispered.
Not wasting a second, he called for a meeting with Valery and Wayne. As he laid out the situation Urich's request and both of them stared at him like he was an alien. Then they reviewed the lyrics he had written in just two days.
"Two days," Wayne muttered. "Two damn days, and you wrote this?"
Valery just shook her head, muttering, "Genius. That's what you are — an annoying genius."
Dayo only smirked.
***
Later that evening, Urich was eating dinner with his wife when his phone rang.
"Hello, Dayo. It hasn't been long since I called. Any news?"
"Yes," Dayo said, his voice calm but confident. "I have lyrics that I'm sure will fit your artist."
Urich froze mid-bite. "Ehh… what? So fast?" He nearly dropped his fork, earning a sharp glare from his wife that quickly made him sit straighter.
"I just called you not more than a few hours ago. How…?"
"Well…" Dayo went on to explain his process — how he'd analyzed Luna's voice, written the song, and even why he'd been unreachable for two days while searching for inspiration.
"Hm. Are you sure about this?" Urich asked, skepticism clear in his tone.
Dayo chuckled. He could understand. Luna wasn't just any artist. With her reputation and recent silence, the stakes were high, and Urich probably thought Dayo was trying to ride on the hype.
"Oh, come on," Dayo said smoothly. "I know exactly what Luna is going through. She's struggling with songs that she would've nailed a few years ago, right? Even when she likes a song now, it feels… off. Weird."
The silence on the other end was telling before Urich finally spoke, his voice quieter. "…How did you know that?"
"It's simple," Dayo said. "Exceptional artists evolve. They mature beyond their old sound. The tricky part is finding the new style that fits. Most artists can't make that leap, and a lot of careers end too soon because of it."
Urich's voice was cautious but curious. "So, what you're telling me is… you've found a style that fits Luna?"
"Yes," Dayo replied without hesitation. "Just pick a date. I'll fly over to confirm."
Urich exhaled, still processing. "Alright. I'll let you know when to come. I'll send the tickets too."
***
The moment the call ended, Urich quickly rang Amanda, Luna's agent and closest friend.
"Inform Luna that she should come to the studio two days from now. I think I've found a match for her song."
Amanda gasped. "What! Seriously?"
"Yes. Just make sure you're there."
"Yes, sir!" she said, excitement bubbling in her voice.
"Luna! Where are you?" Amanda's voice rang through the house.
Inside, Luna, with her jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders, lounged on the couch watching TV. She didn't even flinch at the shouting — she knew that voice anywhere.
"What's with the shouting, Amanda? You're not usually this loud," Luna said, amused.
"Guess what?"
"Oh, come on, you know I don't guess," Luna said, arching a brow.
"Ugh, you're no fun," Amanda grumbled, bouncing on her heels. "Anyway, Urich just called. He said he might have found a matching song and lyrics for you."
Luna tilted her head, her eyebrow quirking slightly. "Seriously?" Her voice held no excitement. This wasn't the first time Amanda had delivered that news, and each time, it ended in disappointment.
"You should know better by now, Amanda," she said flatly.
Amanda crossed her arms, undeterred. "Oh, come on. This one feels different. I can feel it in my bones."
Luna sighed, finally sitting up. "Hmm… alright. I'll come along."
"That's the spirit! Two days from now — I'll clear your schedule."
When Dayo landed in the U.K., a driver was already waiting to whisk him straight to the studio.
"Dayo," Urich greeted him warmly at the entrance, "I swear, you should just move to the U.K. How long has it been since we last met?"
"Nice try," Dayo said with a smirk. "Let's get this recording started."
He handed Urich a flash drive and a folder containing the lyrics and the instrumental. Urich passed them to his assistant as they walked toward the studio, chatting briefly about the session ahead.
The moment Dayo stepped into the studio, he instinctively scanned the room. The high-end equipment made him pause — his own studio was good, but this? This was on another level entirely.
Then his gaze landed on her.
Seated quietly near the mixing console was a mature, dark-haired woman with a natural elegance that instantly caught his attention. Luna.
For a brief second, Dayo's mind went blank.
And as if sensing his eyes, Luna looked up, her striking purple irises locking onto his. Dayo's lips curved into an easy, confident smile.
She blinked, momentarily taken aback by the boldness in his gaze.
Behind him, Urich, who had caught the entire exchange, leaned in and whispered, "You don't stand a chance."
Dayo tilted his head slightly and smirked. "We'll see about that."