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I'm nervous. I'm also not really sure where I am.
"Hey, sorry, meeting ran late and honestly-" a voice starts to speak to me, "Well, we just weren't expecting you."
"That's okay," I say, "I'm in no rush."
"That's-" the voice chuckles, "I suppose no one is. Anyways, I'm sure you're wondering why you're here."
"Uhm..." I look around, still nobody, "Is there a reason I can't see you?"
"You can't- apologies," the voice says. Suddenly, Trainer appears before me, "There how is that."
"I can see you," that isn't right though, "But you don't sound like Trainer."
"I'm not," they admit, "But I wanted to take on a form you recognized, one that was familiar to you."
"Oh, that makes sense," I look around the void, "What am I doing here? And where is here?"
"Well Haru," not Trainer says, "You've moved on."
"To where?" I ask.
"That- uhm, Haru would you say you lived a good life?" They ask.
"I think so," I think back on my life. So many races run, so many friends made, and I got to eat all that grass.
"Well," not Trainer sighs, "When people reach their... finish line, it is my job to judge them and see where they belong."
"Ahhhh," I sigh, I wish it was a race instead.
"You like racing?" They ask.
"Oh, I love it! I mean, I'm not very good at it, but it's always fun," I say with a wide smile.
"It's good to have fun," not Trainer says.
"It is," I agree, "That's what you always told me, I mean, not you you, but the you you're trying to be."
"Of course," not Trainer looks a bit worried, "People spent a lot of money on you. They were always rooting for you even when they were sure you would lose. I see here several kilograms of rye grass was sent to you."
"That was kind of them," I say.
"You- I'm sorry Haru, but you don't seem bothered by any of this," not Trainer surmises.
"I'm not really sure where I am," I admit.
"Haru, you passed away," not Trainer explains, "You're in the after life."
"Woah," I say, "You get to live two lives?"
"Something like that," not Trainer smiles, "I have to say I've never met someone who has impacted so many people."
"Oh yeah, well I try to make friends wherever I go," I brag, "Even though some of them can be kind of rude."
"Yes, we are aware of Gold Ship," not Trainer says, "I take it you haven't seen this yet, then." Not Trainer waves their hand over an orb of mist and summon an image of- me? "All these people drawing your likeness," they continue, more images of me flash by, people mourning and crying, people happy to see me eating grass, "I have never seen such an outpouring. You impacted more people than most can claim to have met."
"Wow," I say, "I didn't know I made that many friends."
"You did," not Trainer smiles, "You were very loved, Haru."
"Yeah, well," I stare off into the white void, "When can I go back?"
"It doesn't work like that Haru," not Trainer explains.
"Ah," I say, "Rats."
"But I think you'll like where we're going," not Trainer says, a door appears beside them. Mist or fog or something flows out the door as it opens, on the other side a stable. Rye grass greener than I've ever seen before fills the sides of the stall. A coat with my name emblazoned on the side hangs from the stall door. The ground is covered in a fluffy white blanket. Stepping through the door, I inspect the other stalls. No one else is here. It's just me.
"Uhm, not Trainer?" I ask, "When can I go racing again?"
"Whenever you like," they say.
"Right, but..." I look around, everywhere there are stalls with no names above them, "When will my friends get here?"
"In time," not Trainer says, "For now, there are lots of people who are looking forward to racing against you."
"Okay," I say, trying to not sound glum, "Not Trainer, I didn't win a lot of races."
"Haru," not Trainer smiles softly, "You didn't win any races."
"I did win that one time," I object, "But I guess that wasn't official."
"It wasn't," they chuckle, "But winning is not everything."
"You sound like Trainer," I admit.
"You lived a good life, Haru," not Trainer continues, "From now on, you can race and eat to your hearts content."
"That does sound nice," I admit, "And the race track is this way?"