The hall was still buzzing from Mi Ko's entrance when he stepped forward again, his presence radiating the same energy as a man who had built empires and survived storms. The crowd hushed instantly. Phones lowered. Students leaned in. Even the teachers looked like people about to witness history.
He adjusted the microphone with a calm smile.
"Here is how I will choose," he said, his voice echoing smoothly across the marble walls.
"You will be given a problem. In two hours, you must present a solution. Use your phones, your brains, your teamwork."
Gasps rippled through the hall.
He paused, letting tension thicken the air.
Gift grabbed AraBaddie's arm. Lolade inhaled. Nyambura flicked her braids back, waiting. Peace crossed her arms, silently daring the challenge.
Mi Ko's lips curved mischievously.
"The problem is…"
Silence.
Anticipation.
A heartbeat that felt like ten.
"How can we reduce food wastage using technology?"
For a moment, nobody even breathed.
Then the room exploded.
Chairs screeched. Bags dropped. Students screamed instructions and sprinted to corners like soldiers in a battlefield.
Lolade rushed toward Gift and AraBaddie.
"Group now!" she shouted.
BigDave arrived dramatically with five bottles of soda like a delivery rider.
"Energy drink for geniuses!" he yelled.
MideFlex joined them with a smirk, cracking his knuckles. "Time to cook. Let's go."
Peace didn't look their way. She walked to the Royal Academy Media group, but her steps had an edge. She kept glancing at MideFlex with Lolade beside him.
She was always Team LoladeDripz after all.
Nyambura joined a mixed East African team, her chin raised high, but even she stole glances at MideFlex's table.
The teams were scattered across the massive hall. Some sat on the floor. Some used walls as writing boards. Some were already fighting. Some were already giving up.
It was chaos, but the type that created legends.
Gift flipped her laptop open and typed like lightning.
"Okay people, prototype first. Everything else later!"
AraBaddie spread her notes dramatically.
"We can use my mum's packaging design. The biodegradable one!"
Lolade leaned in, voice soft but sharp.
"What if we use QR codes to track produce lifespan. Like how long the food has left before spoilage."
MideFlex punched the air.
"That is it! Then we build an app that sends alerts to sellers. They get warnings before food goes bad."
Gift almost jumped.
"Yesssss! Fresh! Genius! Revolutionary! I love it!"
They huddled together, scribbling, coding, drawing diagrams, working like a mini AI lab.
But Peace kept glancing their way, her chest tightening. She shouldn't have spoken to her cousin that way. She shouldn't have assumed. But she did. And it stung.
Nyambura walked slowly past MideFlex's team, deliberately brushing too close. Lolade inhaled sharply but forced her attention back to the screen.
The challenge grew fiercer.
Brainstorming.
Sketching.
Testing.
Arguing.
Laughing.
Fixing bugs.
Starting again.
Mi Ko walked around silently, observing each team like a general inspecting troops.
When he reached MideFlex's group, he stopped.
"This looks promising and real."
Lolade's cheeks burned red.
Gift almost screamed.
AraBaddie bowed like she was greeting royalty.
MideFlex only smiled with the confidence of a boy ready to win.
Mi Ko nodded and moved on.
When he reached Peace's group, he smiled politely.
"Good media strategy."
Peace forced a smile, but her eyes were distant. She shouldn't have snapped at her cousin. She should have trusted him. But she didn't.
An hour later, the gong rang.
Time was up. ⏰
Students scrambled back to their seats, sweating, shaking, holding laptops like shields and dreams like weapons.
The presentations began.
A Kenyan team stunned everyone with a solar cooling box system.
The Ghana schools created a preservation drone that monitored market produce.
Peace's group pitched an awareness campaign powered by micro influencers, and even Mi Ko nodded at their confidence.
Then it was time.
MideFlex's team walked to the stage.
They called their Project FreshFlow Nigeria.
A biodegradable smart packaging designed by AraBaddie.
A QR based freshness tracking system developed by Lolade.
A mobile alert app built by MideFlex and Gift.
The hall was quiet.
Mi Ko looked impressed. Genuinely impressed.
"That is very impressive," he said.
The applause thundered. Cheers rose. Some girls screamed MideFlex's name like he was a celebrity.
Peace felt her stomach twist.
Nyambura bit her lip, surprised and annoyed by how solid the idea was.
More teams presented, but the tension only grew thicker. Everyone could feel it. Ten winners. Ten lives about to change. Ten futures about to be rewritten.
After the final pitch, Mi Ko picked up the microphone.
"The winners are…"
Silence.
Students froze.
Gift held AraBaddie's hand so tightly she almost screamed.
Lolade covered her mouth, eyes wide.
BigDave was already sweating like he owed someone money.
Boys from Royal Academy whispered nervously.
Girls from Nairobi Academy clutched their scarves.
Even the hall lights seemed to dim slightly.
"…Just only ten." Mi-Ko smiled and saw their scared faces
Gasps.
Nobody patient.
Heads snapped up.
MideFlex blinked.
Gift staggered.
AraBaddie was ready to faint dramatically.
Then—
"Peace Adeniran,the team speaker from Royal Academy Media group, step forward!"
Peace screamed without shame and ran forward proudly. Her joy lit her face like a festival. Whispers broke out instantly.
"What is her name?"
"She is fine sha."
"What is her IG? Check Snapchat!"
"She killed that presentation. No wonder."
She shone like someone born for the spotlight.
Mi Ko continued.
"Team FreshFlow Nigeria, come on stage!"
The entire hall erupted.
People stood.
Phones lifted.
Cheers hit the ceiling.
They climbed the stage.
Mi Ko shook their hands one by one.
The whole team. Five of them. Gift nearly cried from happiness. Lolade stood poised. AraBaddie looked like a queen. MideFlex flexed. BigDave smiled like destiny just saluted him.
Next name.🔥
"Adeyemi Jayden,the team speaker from AllStars Foundation College Press Group."
The hall chorused "Jaydennnnn!"
Girls screamed like he was a K drama lead.
He walked with elegance, sharp jawline, clean haircut, and confidence that could melt a runway.
Whispers flew.
"That boy is too fine."
"He is every girl's type oh."
"He should be illegal."
Mi Ko laughed softly.
Next.
"Nancy Piesie,the main idea contributor from Scholars Domain High Press Club."
The crowd screamed "Nancyyyy!"
She walked like a supermodel. Legs for days. Poise like royalty.
ZETACIRCLE's finest. Ghana's pride.
The hall scattered.
Next.
"Zawadi Nyambura,the main speaker from Nairobi Elite Academy."
Less noises...
Nyambura stepped forward, chin raised, eyes blazing like she owned the continent.
"And Duduyemi Alao,the team leader from Queensland Heights Jet Club."
The last boy ran forward, overwhelmed and teary eyed.
Then Mi Ko dropped the mic to the MC, VZ, who had just arrived.
VZ spun dramatically.
"You ten, are you ready to join Mi Ko's mentorship program!"
"YES!"
"Everybody give a round of applause to Mi-Ko!!!"
The hall lost control.
Students screamed.
Teachers clapped proudly.
Le Fondateur and Mr Bamidele came out from the shadows like legends returning after exile. Their faces shone with pride. Redemption had visited them through their students.
Pictures were taken.
Flashlights everywhere.
Mi Ko hugged them one by one.
As the event thinned, Peace inhaled and walked toward MideFlex.
"MideFlex," she called gently.
He turned.
There was something soft in her eyes.
"I misjudged you. I am sorry."
He exhaled slowly. "It's fine."
She moved closer.
"But next time, tell me when you dance with someone else or someone you like. Not a stranger."
He blinked then smiled faintly.
"Peace Adeniran, leave me and my feelings and face yours. You hear?"
Peace froze.
"No. I am just being protective. If anything happens, you will still come back to me for one of my stupid ideas."
Lolade walked up, smiling warmly.
"Congratulations Peace."
"Thank you Lolade," she replied, though her smile wobbled.
"MideFlex we need to take the photos with Le Fondateur before he leaves," Lolade said.
They walked off together as Peace watched them.
Her chest loosened but did not fully relax.
Nyambura passed behind her and whispered in her ear.
"Protective hmm?"
Peace stepped closer.
"Zawadi Nyambura, do not mess with my brother. I know you want someone to brag about in ZETACIRCLE but you are wrong. He is taken and he shall remain taken."
Nyambura laughed mockingly.
"Taken by who? LoladeDripz?"
Peace smirked.
"Coming from someone desperate for a dance partner. I know they removed you from ZETACIRCLE. Your ego and pride are your downfall. Find someone your size and dance around together."
Nyambura's eyes flashed.
"You are getting rude now."
Peace unwrapped a lollipop with attitude.
"If you do not want problems, do not mess with an Adeniran. Especially when I am alive."
She walked away proudly.
Nyambura stood there shaking.
"Who does she think she is?" she hissed under her breath.
The drama was nowhere near done.
And Day Two was not even over.😉🔥