After the announcement of Hall of Fame as the official FIFA anthem, Dayo and Luna became the hottest names on every invitation list. TV shows, concerts, club gigs, fashion parties—everyone wanted them to appear. The label carefully picked the right platforms to maximize the buzz, and one of the biggest came quickly: The Tonight Show with Marcus Ryane (in this world, the host wasn't Jimmy Fallon).
For Dayo, this wasn't just another appearance—it was his first time performing in front of a massive live audience. Despite his calm exterior, nerves crept in. In his past life, he had only been a producer, rarely stepping into the spotlight. Interviews were one thing, but performing live on stage was new territory.
Luna, who had grown closer to him over the past weeks, noticed his unease. She tapped his arm lightly.
"Nervous?"
Dayo forced a smile, shaking his head. "Nah, it's just the weather."
Luna laughed, unable to hold back. "OMG, so the capable JD is actually scared. I can't believe this—I have to save this memory." She pulled out her phone and started recording, while Dayo sighed helplessly.
"Alright," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck, "maybe I'm a little nervous. It's my first time singing in front of this many people." The faint blush on his face betrayed his calm act.
After posting the playful video on her Instagram story, Luna reached over and placed her hand on his. This wasn't the first time she had shown quiet support, and Dayo felt his heartbeat slow.
"It's normal to be nervous," she said softly. "Just focus on the music. Leave the rest to history—I trust you can do that."
Dayo nodded, her words settling him like an anchor.
Moments later, the producer walked in to cue them. "You're up in five"
***
When Marcus Ryane walked onto the stage, the studio erupted in applause. He grinned, warming up the crowd.
"Alright, alright, folks this next performance has been everywhere. I mean it—open TikTok, scroll Instagram, switch on YouTube—you can't escape this song. And honestly? I don't even want to. It's stuck in my head, and I'm not mad about it."
The audience laughed knowingly.
"You know them, she's the legendary powerhouse, some call her the Queen of Ballads. He's the breakout genius they're calling the future of global pop. And together? They created the anthem that's going to soundtrack the FIFA World Cup. Performing their hit Hall of Fame—please welcome: Luna and JD!"
The lights dropped. Screams filled the air. Then the stage lit up in waves of gold and blue as the live band struck the opening notes.
Luna stepped out first, elegant and poised, followed by JD in a tailored outfit. His earlier nerves had melted away—Luna's encouragement still echoed in his mind. He looked calm, composed, almost untouchable.
He took the first step forward, his voice rising with controlled intensity:
"Yeah, you could be the greatest… you could be the best…"
The crowd screamed as his deep, soulful control carried across the studio. A slick dance move—ending in a playful moonwalk—brought another roar of cheers.
Then Luna took her turn, her voice soaring:
"Standing in the Hall of Fame… and the world's gonna know your name…"
Powerful yet rich with emotion, her vocals made the audience rise to their feet, clapping along to the rhythm.
Back-to-back, Dayo and Luna locked eyes briefly, then sang together in perfect harmony:
"Do it for your people, do it for your pride…"
Their voices blended seamlessly—JD's grit anchoring Luna's elegance—like two puzzle pieces falling perfectly into place.
When the final note faded, the lights came back up. The crowd leapt to their feet in a thunderous standing ovation. Even Marcus Ryane himself clapped hard, grinning ear to ear.
***
"Wow," Marcus said, walking back on stage. "That was… that was amazing. First of all—welcome, JD. Welcome, Luna. That was simply mind-blowing. Thank you for being here."
"Thank you for having us," Luna replied gracefully. "It feels surreal, honestly. Being back after such a long time."
JD leaned into the mic, calm but charming. "Appreciate it, man. First time here, but I grew up watching this show, so yeah—it's kinda crazy being on this stage right now."
Marcus smirked. "Okay, Dayo—first things first. Where did you even come from? One minute you're covering a Luron Vale song, next thing you're headlining the World Cup anthem with the queen herself. Also, nice moves out there—I could use a few lessons."
JD chuckled, grinning. "Lesson number one, Marcus: if you mess up, just pretend it's freestyle. Works every time."
The crowd burst into laughter and applause at the playful delivery.
With a sigh he continued
"Let's just say I took the long route," JD continued. "Started behind the scenes, went through a heartbreak … then I met someone who changed everything for me. As for where I'm from, I'm African American. My dad's American, my mom's Nigerian."
Marcus nodded knowingly. "Ah, I knew it. The way you moved on stage? That rhythm—it gave you away." The crowd laughed and cheered. "And hey—you better thank the girl who broke your heart, 'cause look at you now."
"Yeah, I guess I should," JD said with a playful smile, sending ripples of screams through the female audience.
Marcus turned to Luna. "And you, Luna—welcome back. You've been quiet for years, but you just came back hotter than ever. What made you jump on this track?"
Luna adjusted her seat, her smile calm but sincere. "Honestly? I wasn't looking for a song. I was ready to disappear for a while. I tried a lot of songs, but nothing felt right. Then I stumbled on JD online… and his sound was exactly what I didn't even know I needed. The moment I heard it, it felt like the missing puzzle piece. That's when I knew—I had to do this song."
The audience broke into applause.
Marcus grinned. "Wow. What can I say? That sounds like a novel. You two have crazy chemistry. People are shipping you online, by the way."
JD and Luna exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.
"Well," Luna said with a mischievous smile, "we have grown close these past weeks. So yes, we're in a ship. What kind of ship? I'll let you guys decide."
The crowd roared at her unexpected response.
Marcus leaned forward, smirking knowingly. "Well, there you have it, folks—the story behind Hall of Fame. JD and Luna, everyone!"
The applause swelled again as the cameras faded to black.
A/N:Thanks to GamsGrand245, Ra_Gee_1250, anil_kumar_saini for the powerstone.
Here's the extra chapter I promised.