"CP 1765, August 19. 20 days have passed since landing. Local time: AD 2016, September 6."

  "Twenty local day-night cycles have passed since the crash landing — roughly equivalent to 23 days on Lierus. I think I should start keeping a log at regular intervals from now on. Maybe it could serve as a memoir later."

  "What happened?"

  "*See the 'Xi P's Memory' chapters*"

  "This location should be adc-45:3, 86 light-years from Lierus Ait. What a miracle! If someone had told me before that the atmosphere here was breathable, I'd have sent them straight to a mental institution. Yet here I am. The sky survey telescopes should have spotted this ages ago — the oxygen signatures are unmistakable in atmospheric refraction spectra. Too bad the survey for this sector won't arrive for another 25 years. I suppose that's one sliver of hope for rescue... assuming they don't find other habitable planets first."

  "In my previous imagination, if we discovered extraterrestrials, they might have body temperatures as high as 200 degrees C, or dwell on deep-sea beds, or even be a massive collective consciousness — anything was possible. But after landing here, it turns out that my previous imagination was a bit too rich. At least, if this isn't an exception, what I see is: On a planet with similar humidity and basic elemental composition, life forms won't differ too greatly. The similarity among beings that can be called 'people' is even higher. With respect to the local inhabitants, if they stood more than 80 metres away from me, I couldn't even tell them apart from us."

  "Not only do they resemble us in appearance, but we also share many physiological similarities. We can breathe the same air, inhabit the same lands and share some of the same dietary habits. Bear in mind that they're omnivores — perhaps I should ask Ye Min what it's like to eat plants..."

  ***

  "I've, been here, for a month, now." Xi P tells Min.

  When Robinson Crusoe taught English to the native he named Friday on the deserted island, it took three months just to get him to speak a few broken phrases (Note 1). Perhaps that story isn't real, but it illustrates the difficulty of learning a foreign language. Fortunately, Xi P has plenty of free time every day, and it's not 1659 anymore.

  Note 1: Although Robinson Crusoe described it as "the happiest year", he took Friday in under his wing in September. From my understanding this means 12-9=3 months.

  Of course, Min only has limited time each weekday and couldn't possibly spend entire days at home tutoring Xi P as Robinson did. But nowadays, one can be one's own teacher. Needless to say, everyone knows how much computers and dictionaries can aid language learning. Robinson Crusoe only used a Bible to teach language and converted a native into a believer — proof of the importance of learning materials.

  For now, both parties remained optimistic. Xi P could produce every required syllable, although they often sounded strange. Min genuinely could not wrap his head around it. While it is inevitable that life on a planet with an atmosphere would evolve sound-based communication, why did it have to be this exact way? Not to mention why they also evolved their mouths into a shared passage for both respiration and digestion — though this did offer the practical advantage of being able to 'suck'... If it weren't for the fact that it would be inappropriate, Min would stick an endoscope behind Xi P's tongue to see what it actually looks like in there.

  As it turns out, Xi P has pondered similar questions. Min simply shows him an anatomical diagram of the human throat in response.

  In any case, they are not in a rush. Since neither Xi P nor Min has been reduced to a pile of pus by alien bacteria, it probably means that extraterrestrial microorganisms aren't really anything to fret over.

  During this month together, Min has also become accustomed to referring to Xi P as 'he', even though its gender remains undetermined. After all, explaining the evolutionary definitions of 'male' and 'female' requires a level of linguistic sophistication that is beyond them at the moment. The other fox people that Min sees in photos and VR videos all look pretty much the same as Xi P.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Regardless, Xi P's words remind Min that it's indeed been a month since Xi P's arrival. Measured precisely to the hour, or even minute—truly a moment worth commemorating. Just as they hoped, no one came to visit them. The internet has also settled back into calm. Neither the Paris Olympics nor the nuclear pulse engine capture the mainstream media's attention anymore. For scientists in specialised fields, the storm driving this technological revolution has only just begun, but for most people, it was merely a foreign technological advancement, soon forgotten. And the local meteorite-hunting groups never show up at Min's house either. Initial concerns over an alien landing now seem like a lot of fuss over nothing.

  Once they had made some progress with the language, the two spent a long time eagerly exchanging views on each other's societies and cultures, keen to gain a better understanding of one another. This not only provided language practice, but also satisfied their curiosity about the alien society they had landed on — or what life was like among the fox people.

  ***

  When Xi P finds out what Min thinks of his appearance, he is astonished to say the least.

  Being told he looks cute — especially by an alien — is hardly a pleasant experience. At least Xi P doesn't share that preference. He even finds the words somewhat nauseating. He can't quite grasp why Min thinks he looks cute. According to Min's description, he appears "fluffy-looking" with "long ears".

  'But why?? A species with little fur and short ears actually prefers long fur and long ears? What kind of logic — or nature — is that?'

  Of course, this also suddenly clarifies one reason why Min helped him. He has once scorned the notion of physical appeal, yet he is saved precisely because of it — utterly ironic. What's this? The protagonist is accidentally stranded on an alien planet, only to discover that he is irresistibly charming to the locals, effortlessly wins their hearts? This isn't even space opera anymore; it is...hm...romance novel masquerading as sci-fi?

  Truly terrifying.

  'How could this aesthetic even develop?' Xi P remains utterly perplexed and adds it to his ever-growing list of Unsolved Alien Mysteries.

  ***

  Min is deeply relieved that he hasn't told Xi P anything about Japanese Kemonomimi (girls with animal ears) or the furry fandom. He had only vaguely described the reason as having "soft fur" and "long ears", avoiding the term "animal ears" altogether. He understands why Xi P found these odd; the human aesthetic for long ears and fluffy fur is indeed peculiar.

  Of course, fur comes in different types. Most of the fur on Xi P's face differs from that on his arms, but both are quite nice. In fact, it looks better than much real fox fur, largely because Xi P grooms it meticulously — nearly always combed neatly and kept spotless...

  After sharing his thoughts, Min curiously asks Xi P what he thinks of him.

  Min's question makes Xi P hesitate slightly. His own perspective on Min's appearance is rather... different to Min's opinion of him. He hadn't intended to bring it up himself, but since Min has asked...

  'We're all civilised people,' Xi P reasons to himself, 'and we understand each other's backgrounds. There shouldn't be too much to worry about.'

  "...no fur...deformed...hard..."

  As Min anticipated, Xi P does not find the lack of fur attractive — it's merely tolerable. As for the ears and knees, his description is "deformed". Min is fairly certain that he didn't intend to use the word "deformed" — he probably meant something similar but less derogatory, but that's the only word that came to mind.

  These are nothing to be surprised about. Putting himself in Xi P's shoes, Min understands why the alien holds these views. However, Xi P pauses for a moment and adds another point. He raises his hand, tugging and pulling at his own facial skin while shaking his head.

  "This... is terrifying." Xi P states.

  "Uh..."

  Xi P probably finds human facial expressions overly exaggerated or frightening. Given their limited facial muscles, this reaction is also understandable. Min would probably share a similar impression if he sees someone freely contorting their skin beyond what is considered normal.

  Overall, Xi P's verdict on human appearance is "acceptable (tolerable)", since both share similar body plan and neither has a tail. His sense of smell isn't particularly strong either — the human scent isn't troubling him. Though that might just be because Min is the only one around.

  In general, Xi P sees Min as humans see little grey aliens. Min comes to this conclusion internally.

  Finally, Xi P adds: "Better than hanging out with pigs."

  Min needs a moment to process this, and then realises that Xi P truly means no insult — he simply hasn't grasped the nuanced connotations of such comparisons yet. Honestly, with Peppa Pig cartoons airing non-stop on TV, it makes perfect sense he'd misjudge human perceptions of pigs.

  ***

  Regardless, considering they are both aliens to each other, the exchange about their appearances has gone relatively well. However, when the conversation shifts to societies, Min starts to feel a bit uncomfortable.

  He hadn't realised that Xi P likes to show off at times like this. Xi P keeps pulling up photos and concept art from his tablet to show Min, which is fine — Min finds these alien-flavoured cityscapes, indoor spaces, and landscapes quite intriguing. But then Xi P insists Min to pull up similar images for comparison, pointing out shortcomings while broadly discussing advanced features and potential improvements. Even though he knows those suggestions are probably valid, Min can't help but feel uncomfortable.

  Of course, it is more likely Xi P had simply been bottling things up for too long.