"CP 1765, December 7. 136 days have passed since landing. Local time: AD 2016, December 31."

  "A momentous year, isn't it? For me, for Earth, and even for Lierus. The Interstellar Exploration Mission must have yielded many breakthroughs and discoveries — a pity I won't be around to witness them."

  "Why does the concept of a 'year' exist in two distinct cultures and species, and carrying such profound significance? As a simple, intuitive unit of time measurement, that might answer the first question. But where does its meaning come from? In the earliest times, people certainly didn't commemorate the passing of a year because 'we celebrate the celestial body beneath our feet/the star above us having completed one orbit around the planet/star'. I wonder if, when two civilisations meet, their historians will find these questions headache-inducing... That would be quite funny."

  "After spending extended time in alien societies, the idea of universal interstellar unity doesn't seem nearly as daunting as it once did. If all extraterrestrials were like us, it would likely pose no difficulty at all. What troubles me most aren't social or cultural differences — as long as they aren't too extreme, societal structures and cultures are actually the easiest things to accept and understand. In fact, physical differences can sometimes cause greater complications. While social elites might tolerate or overlook such superficial variations, they become genuine problems for ordinary people. Consider an extreme example: a creature with three heads that constantly oozes mucus (though this is biologically improbable) and has a floppy form. I suppose interactions between such an alien and the masses would be confined to the internet..."

  "But clearly, humans don't have such issues with us. In fact, it seems quite the opposite... They exhibit a pathological fascination with triangular, furry ears, and their affection seems to be directly proportional to the density of the fur. This makes me wonder how that poor tuefue, afflicted with both mega ear syndrome and hypertrichosis, must appear to them. Personally, I'd never find him cute under any circumstances."

  "I've pondered this time and again: are these biological similarities coincidental or inevitable? Even if we share a primordial origin — both evolving from simple life forms carried by meteorites, I still struggle to comprehend these parallels. Was photosynthetic oxygen production an inevitability, or merely a highly probable outcome? Not to mention all those other similarities that seem 'self-evident.' Both have nitrogen-oxygen-dominant atmospheres, with oxygen levels so close we can breathe the same air without issue. Why does the air here resemble Lierus's so closely, rather than being mixed with carbon monoxide, fluorine, or chlorine? It's a headache-inducing coincidence..."

  "One day, we may well come across alien lifeforms with completely different brain structures and thought processes. How would we communicate and understand such beings? Science fiction has explored this many times, but it remains just fiction..."

  "Weather-wise, it's a standard overcast day, but at least there's no dust storm like the one on the 28th. Since the storm, the wind has been eerily quiet — truly a case of rise and fall..."

  ***

  It is now 9 p.m. and the moon is slowly making its way across the sky. Xi P leans halfway out the window, gazing upward at the moon, lost in thought.

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  "Do you want to go to the park for the New Year's Eve show?" A sudden voice from behind startles him, causing him to jerk his ears up and turn towards the sound.

  "It's only nine now. We should go at eleven. Besides, it's too dangerous." Xi P answers without turning around, deliberately shifting his ears back to their normal orientation.

  "Actually, it starts at nine. There'll be lots of musical performances and such. The lighting is dim, and no one will notice your cloak. And even if you don't go, I'll still head over to check it out." Min presses further.

  Xi P thinks for a moment. He really has nothing else to do right now. Getting a first-hand taste of alien music culture can't hurt. Besides, when Min comes back at 1 AM to sleep, he doesn't want to be woken up by the sound of the living room door opening and closing. So he nods.

  "Wise choice you made," Min says, then realises it sounds off and corrects himself, "No, great! Let's go."

  ***

  Xi P is deeply grateful he'd pressed his ears flat against his scalp to slip on the hood. Otherwise, the moment this music blasts out, he'd have jump out of his skin.

  The deafening "music" — so loud the lyrics are unintelligible — runs rampant throughout the venue. He isn't unfamiliar with human music, but what he is hearing now is less a form of music and more a riot control weapon. Even by rock standards, this is the most insanely loud rock he's ever heard. The sound doesn't just vibrate his eardrums through the air — the ground itself transmits undiminished shockwaves. Seeing that massive speaker, probably a storey tall, comes as no surprise.

  The music enters its next movement — if rock even has movements. The added, earth-shaking bass surpasses everything before it, both mentally and physically.

  Min frowns, regretting not bringing a hood or noise-cancelling headphones. Just as he considers grabbing something from a nearby food stall, he feels someone shove him. Turning around, he sees Xi P leaning against a tree, briefly lifting his veil to make a gagging motion before pointing towards the exit.

  "What's wrong?" Min has to speak right into Xi P's ear.

  Xi P feels awful, as if every organ inside him is being pumped up and down by the sound. That earlier comparison to a riot control weapon seems to be turning into reality. He replies: "Feeling a bit sick. This music's vibrations."

  Min could also feel the subwoofers shaking people uncomfortably, though not to the point of vomiting. Xi P's reaction must stem from another physiological difference, probably relating to slight variations in organ resonance frequencies. Without overthinking it, Min shouts, "You can head back first!" and watches him sprint away from the venue at an exaggerated pace. The police monitoring the entrance nearly rush to apprehend him, thankfully Min's timely explanation averts the situation.

  After Xi P departs, Min quickly finds the evening event rather dull, indistinguishable from those of previous years. So, after grabbing some grilled meat and sweets from the food stalls, he leaves ahead of everyone else.

  ***

  Xi P hasn't gone far either. Min soon spots the figure resembling an Islamic woman by the roadside, currently examining a tree. After double-checking he hasn't mistaken the identity, he approaches and taps shoulder: "The bass has stopped. Want to head back? Or have something to eat here?"

  "No. I'd rather walk around nearby. The music's too loud. And these food you got..."

  Xi P is somewhat surprised: all the snacks Min has brought are things Xi P can eat, or at least should be able to. It's thoughtful of him.

  So, as they listen to the music drifting from the venue, the two of them stroll slowly through the park. Since most people have gone to the venue, the park is nearly empty. They walk, eat and chat until, hours later, the countdown ends and fireworks burst into the sky. As they watch the fireworks bloom into beautiful patterns in the sky, Min reflects on the past year. Without exaggeration, this was a turning point in his life — the most extraordinary year, bar none.

  "An interesting way to celebrate," says Xi P, interrupting his train of thought. "Are those chemical explosives and dyes?"