They certainly wouldn't be down long; Johto and Kanto sports teams were playing exclusively "away" games in the 2022 season. While Kanto was still in shambles from the Team Rocket invasion, their sports teams would be playing "home" games in Johto venues for the 2023 season and beyond... at least until the region was rebuilt.

Josh tried not to take offense at Kee's statement, but it was a gargantuan task. Furthermore, his remark about loving the adrenaline rush that would come from being astride the Beast going at full speed pierced his heart like a dagger to the chest. He was visibly distraught by how much the truth hurt. Yes, he wanted to save Hoenn from its terrible future he had witnessed in the Cloud. That was a huge motivator. Ultimately, though, it was a vector to get the fastest experience any Pokémon on land could offer. A noble vector, yes, but a vector nonetheless.

There truly was no Pokémon, not even another legendary Pokémon, that could prepare him for the most extreme of EXTREME SPEEDs the Johto Beast had to offer. By now, the two had rounded the corner to Sector 5, where most of the aquatic courses, fed by one of the largest rivers in Hoenn, were located. Snacker, Josh's Sharpedo, was at play with a Gym Trainer. They were on their way back to the large facility's back entrance.

"I... I..." the Leader tried to speak his mind, but continued to trail off. The words would just not come. The intense G-forces that would come not from a straight-line sprint, but trying to make turns at the surreal speeds Raikou could reach, would be the biggest obstacle. It was one he had already considered. It was the primary reason why he captured Braver the Arcanine, despite not liking the lack of control the species offered. He had to get used to the speed and force behind the noble creature somehow, and that was the closest he could get withou delving into divine territory.

At last, he was able to collect his thoughts. "Kee, you... aren't wrong. While the supreme speed isn't the only reason I've admired Raikou, it is... the primary motivator." He was showing visible pain in his face. Not physical, but emotional pain. He had other strong motivators, such as the events within Terminal 6 of The Cloud. That was a much more pressing motivator, yet it still remained a proxy for his more selfish reason to track down and mount the electric Legendary Pokémon.

The truth of Josh's real reason for pursuing Raikou, as selfish was it was, had enough convenient noble causes behind it that it might just work. That was, of course, a big maybe. It truly was beyond his control whether Raikou would entertain his request. As amazing as it would be to fight alongside the Beast against Rocket and the DRK Triad, even one full-speed run would be a moment he would treasure for the rest of his life.

The worry in Kee's face, and eventually, his voice, made Josh feel even worse. "No, Kee. It's nothing you did," the Leader reassured. "This is the path I've chosen to take. I knew from the beginning it would be a hard one. I just did not know how hard it would be until now. But that's not going to stop me. There's this saying in professional sports that you'll miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." As they rounded the corner to Sector 6, featuring some of the toughest courses on the Racing Grounds, the Leader continued on with his story. There was with no doing that the hardships this road would put him through would be enormous. Enormous, but rewarding.

"And it's a shot I've got to take. I've gotta at least try." As the building's rear entrance came into view, the subtle tears behind Josh's visor started to slide down his cheeks. "And if...and if he chooses someone else, that's not the end of my dream. I'll just have to live my dream through them. And that's okay. As awesome as it would be, living my dream doesn't require me to be the one with the keys. I just need to know the person that has them."

As the two arrived at the back entrance, Josh slid down from the amphibian's back. "Thanks for listening to me vent. I didn't intend to at first, but that's what it turned into." He sniffed. "Your interest in Mauville Racing Grounds is appreciated, Kee. We should have openings soon if you want to issue a formal challenge."