#23. Schedule Schedule Schedule (6)
The opening of Busking? Busking! kicks off right after arriving overseas. Since we were supposed to meet up with the production crew at the airport, we had no choice but to head outside and link up with them there.
Kyaaaaa!————!!!! Airplane!!!! I love youuuuu!!!!!!!
"Whoa, listen to that. It echoes all the way here."
"This is insane. Were we always this big?"
"Is this what airport flex is like?!"
"That whole crowd screaming—is it all for us? No other celebs around or anything?"
But we couldn't join the crew right away. Overseas fans had swarmed the airport to welcome us. Honestly, I had no clue we had this many fans abroad—I never even imagined it. Since we hadn't been active, I figured barely anyone would know us.
"Gonna be a pain to get out."
It was a massive crowd. Not exactly a small group, so pushing through without causing issues would take some serious care. If the airport security hadn't stepped in during the chaos, we might not have even prepped to escape.
"How're we linking up with the crew?"
"Airport's a no-go, so we're meeting at the hotel."
It took a whopping three hours to break through the mob at the airport and reach the hotel just to head to the changed shoot location. It left both the Busking? Busking! crew and us totally flustered.
"Hello."
"Hello."
"Sorry we're late!"
"So sorry!!"
When we finally met the crew at the hotel, we bowed our heads in apology.
"It's fine—no one did it on purpose, and the fans just showed up in droves. Everyone gets it. We even got some great footage out of it. But I'm not sure we can shoot like this."
"Uh... is there a problem?"
"Airplane's popularity here is way bigger than we thought. If we busk, fans'll swarm like crazy."
"Ah!"
"We were gonna promo on SNS and all, but looks like that's unnecessary now. Promo was part of the show's hook, so skipping it throws everything off."
Some fans had trailed us from the airport to the hotel. Promo busking on SNS in this mess? Recipe for disaster.
Skipping promo didn't fix things either.
"Manager noona, did Airplane always have this many fans here?"
"Their fan cafe was barely scraping by. They blew up recently, sure, but I never dreamed it'd be like this."
Popularity even the agency didn't see coming. Where the hell did these fans pop from? Not like goblins or anything.
That's when a staff writer chimed in.
"Probably Masked Singer. It's a huge hit here in Winpuo. Big enough they bought the rights. Hasn't aired yet—few months out, I heard."
"Ah, that makes sense?"
"Haesol's sudden surge came from Masked Singer."
"Yeah, tracks."
Back home, Masked Singer caused a frenzy too. No one didn't know the white-haired prince on the black horse. Staying anonymous early on hyped it up—people hate unsolved mysteries.
"So what now? We still gotta shoot."
"We'll figure it out. Busk in masks or full disguises."
The PD's words twisted the writers' faces. Idea guys gotta brainstorm, after all.
Fans trying to storm the hotel forced the crew and cast to retreat to rooms.
"Sorry, sunbaenim."
"Aigoo~ It's cool, it's cool. Happens."
"Jealous. I'll never get that kinda love."
Since they booked us singers, the other cast were mostly instrumentalists who could play. Busking? Busking! usually rolls with 2-3 singers plus players, so our full-group thing was unusual. Heard manager noona worked magic to snag spots for all of us after they wanted just me. Keeps our domestic buzz alive while we're away.
Non-singers eyed us more like curious civilians than rivals. And mostly 40s+, no harsh vibes toward us kids.
Thanks to their understanding, we scarfed late dinner at the hotel.
"Whoa~ This is good."
Island nation vibes—seafood game's on point. Hotel restaurant's fresh catches were killer. Stuff's so fresh and tasty, even basic prep hits hard.
"This is soo good!!"
Ki Uyeon thumbs-upped, mouth stuffed. "Eat up, diet later," so we went ham. As bellies filled, shoot worries crept back.
"Noona, any word from crew?"
"Eh~ Meeting's dragging."
"How's outside?"
While we ate, noona bounced in-out, barely touching food. Told her to chill and eat—she said yeah but picked at it.
"Hotel blocked solid, most bounced. But some stubborn ones booked rooms to sneak in. That table left of you guys? Fans. Snapping pics sneaky-like."
"Gasp!"
"Don't look! No photo ops."
"Why not say sooner? We were chowing clueless!"
"To dodge cute shots. They share and sell."
"Oh! Deep."
"Eyes off 'em. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Manager noona said our surprise hype wrecked the plan.
"No mini-concert either. Cap at 100? Complaint lines explode."
Airport mob topped 100 easy. 100-only concert? No way.
Her words deflated us a bit.
"Then bigger concert?"
"Yeah. Company's scouting venues now."
"Whoaaa!!!"
"Yes!"
"Woo!"
Hype spiked. One snag, though.
"But skipping mini-concert means full one abroad—won't domestic fans get salty? No home concert yet."
"Huh?"
"Whoa, yeah?!"
"Damn, forgot. Close call."
First show's gotta be for home fans. Overseas debut? Riot.
"Skip 'concert,' call it fanmeet?"
"Still 100-cap vibes. Was eyeing 3k."
"Th-three thousand? Too much?"
"You're that level now."
"Eye close, bean big—but fanmeet label, rent hall, concert it up?"
"3k cap?"
"Yup. We've done fanmeets tons—no biggie."
Semantic dodge. Concert in spirit, fanmeet on paper.
"...Can't nix it—nothing better now. Thanks for idea. If no fix, we'll roll that."
"Sure."
Noona saw most done eating.
"All good? To set."
"Yess~"
"Shoot plan?"
"Gonna hear."
We hit where crew chilled.
"Whoa, hotel's got this?"
"Rushed rental."
Huge room—fit crew, cams, plenty space. Unused banquet hall, looks like.
"Meeting says busy streets too risky. Picking special spot."
"Special?"
"Countryside."
"Ah~!"
Few folks rural, fewer know us.
"Demographic skews 50+. Prep crowd-pleasers—big hits all ages dig."
"Ah... no our songs?"
Jeki sounded bummed. Why here? Promo group. No sings on own show? Sucks.
"Nah, not that. Do yours, sure. Just mix in senior-friendly bops."
"Phew. Got Winpuo classics queued—should kill."
"Perfect! Shoot song pick meet. Cast, gather!!"
PD lit up, cams rolled. After twists, first shoot underway.
？？？
"Kya~! Finally!"
An Airplane fan clutched her chest, glaring through ads on TV. Couldn't miss a second of the must-watch.
Two months into overseas push. Nailed Winpuo, now Zao—spreading name wide. Domestic fans pined for homecoming.
Then jackpot: Airplane on Busking? Busking!
Looping old clips in longing, this was dream fuel.
Haa, haa! Driving me nuts!
Thrilled at success, but missing 'em grew. Show scratches itch.
Girl fan's heart matched fan chat frenzy.
Sadly couldn't meet IRL—minor, airs 10pm.
Sharing joy together would've ruled!
Minutes later, ads end, black screen, logo pops. Busking? Busking! begins.