The crowd roared as The Gigantamax Centiskorch of Kabu, the Young and energetic Motostoke Gym Leader, brought a gym challenger's Perrserker to it's knees with a G-Max Centiferno, it's signature move.

From behind the TV Screen cheered Kai, a young adult who had always yearned to become a Pokemon Challenge Champion, but never found the time to do so. Now enrolled at a university which he was struggling to make by with, his life and dreams sort of just... faded. Kabu, his favorite gym challenge leader, was his inspiration. To Kai, he was an underdog. He always kept a cool head. Battling him would be a dream come true. But alas, those who anticipate greatness can't always get it.

Kai, while not a trainer, had a companion. A small little Jangmo-o, who had been with him since his youth. However, since it never battled or grew, little Jangmo-o never evolved into Hakamo-o, and never got to see it's true potential to become a Raging Kommo-o. But to the little dragon, life was perfect. Sleeping in Kai's bed while he was at class, and stealing scraps from his poorly made budget curry , it was all a little pokemon needed to survive.

All was about to change that fateful day, when Chairman Rose appeared on the turf. Rose was young, very young, and had just inherited the Macro Cosmos corporation from his now late uncle. Kabu shook the hand of the chairman as he waved to the crowd, his Cufant following behind.

"Hello, people of Galar! As you just saw before me, Kabu, Motostoke's own Gym Leader, took another name on his belt for victory! What an amazing match!"

The crowd roared. Kai heated up some leftover curry, as Jangmo-o hopped off the bed to see what the good smell was. He sat down at the table, eyeing the TV, taking slow bites of his meal.

"As you know, we love our challengers, but we also love to extend our hand out to new challengers every year! This time, to celebrate our 40th annual gym challenge, we will be having a special competition for College students in the very town of Motostoke who are currently enrolled at Mostostoke University! The winner of this raffle will become the next challenger to join the next Galar Gym Challenge!"

Kai held his fork in mid air for a second. "Wait... a free ride into the gym challenge? What's the catch?"

Rose smiled. "Now, I'm sure you all at home are wondering, 'Well now, that sounds lovely! But what's the catch?' Well my friends, anyone enrolled at the University will have their shot at rising to the top, and will be endorsed under my own name as the final competitor for the gym challenge! With a total of 20 competitors for the 40th round, and 19 being already filled, our final spot will go to one lucky student who can successfully name all eight gym leaders! If so, write it on a sheet of paper, with your name, dorm number, and hometown, and you may have a chance to win! Each dorm hall will have a submission box at the end of the hallway. We will announce the winner in one hour. Good luck!"

Kai dropped his fork. Jangmo-o turned to see what the loud clang was. "This is my chance... finally, I have a chance to get my foot in the door and show the world what I can do!"

Kai got up from his chair, scrambling to find a piece of paper and pen, and began to write each gym leader down.

"Angelo, Turrfield. Zane, Hulbury. Kabu, Motostoke..."

Jangmo-o walked over to his master, trying to see what he was doing.

"...Mary, Stow-on-Side. Opal, Balonella. Juliette, Circhester. Simmons, Spikemuth. Rikki, Hammerlocke..."

Kai scanned the paper for mistakes. "Yes... That's it. This is definitely it."

Confidently, he folded the paper, kissing it for good luck, as he ran out of the kitchen and out the door to his dorm, Jangmo-o trailing behind, squealing, almost as if to say, 'Wait up!'

He ran down the hallway, looking carefully for the box, decorated with the gym challenge logo. A line of other students blocked the submission stand. Kai gulped.

Man, what am I thinking? I don't stand a chance against all these people...

The line cleared up quickly, and Kai finally slipped his note in. He inhaled, before briskly exhaling, as Jangmo-o finally caught up. It was tired, and it looked a bit angry, as it bashed into Kai's foot.

"Ow!" Kai exclaimed, looking down at his scaly friend, proud of what it had just done. "Hey, look man, I didn't forget about you. Com'ere!"

Jangmo-o nuzzled up to Kai's legs, squealing in delight, as he picked up his little dragon buddy. "Come on Jangmo-o, we've got to tune into the next match!"

Upon returning to the dorm, the next match had started. The countdown timer for the submission drawing had appeared on the bottom right corner of the screen. In anticipation, Kai and Jangmo-o watched the Steel type gym leader of Circhester, Juliette, take on a gym challenger. Juliette was a fit blonde woman, often gawked at by adolescent men for her body, who was recently divorced. Her husband left Galar and went instead to the Johto region to become a Gym Leader. Juliette only had one child with her, but gave birth to three kids. Twins, Ivan and Rene, and her daughter, Melony. Ivan and Rene moved to Johto with their father, but Melony stayed in Galar with her mother. Nobody knew much about her, but people knew that Juliette didn't mess around in battle.

"And just like that ladies and gentlemen, Juliette's Copperajah has ended another Gym Challenger's streak! How DOES she do it?"

Kai continued to watch. The drawing was coming up next. Rose somehow managed to appear on the field once again.

"My my! What a match! Outstanding performance from Juliette once again!" Rose began.

Juliette waved, smiling to all her fans.

"Well, without further ado, it's time for us to select our lucky winner from Motostoke University! I had to rush over here in order to be on time... Thank goodness for flying taxis, am I right?"

The crowd laughed. Rose pulled out a paper after handing Juliette the box to hold. He opened the flap, and read the name. Kai's heart was pounding out of his chest, the anticipation could be cut with a butterknife.

"Congratulations to... Jolyene of Stow-on-Side! Let's see if she got all 8 gym leaders correct..."

Kai frowned. He knew it was too good to be true. He reached for the remote to turn the Television off.

"Oh no! I'm sorry Jolyene, but you didn't give us all 8 Gym leaders! You stopped at Number 7... Simmons. Too bad..." Rose frowned, as the crowd groaned disappointingly.

Kai froze, hand grasped on the remote. "Oh?" he asked himself.

"Well then, we'll have to draw another name."

Rose sifted through the box long and hard. He pulled out the second flap.

"And this lucky winner is... Kai of Postwick!"

Kai's eyes widened. "NO! No way!"

"And the facts check out! Indeed they do! Kai has all eight gym leaders correctly labeled and named!" Rose smiled, and the crowd screamed. Juliette smiled, clapping. "Congratulations Kai, you've won yourself the final spot into the gym challenge!"

Kai jumped out his seat. "YES! YES! YEEEEEAAAAAAAAH!"

Jangmo-o was confused, but proceeded to jump for joy.

"Finally... my dreams, they can become a reality! no... this seems too good to be true..." Kai said.

Jangmo-o nibbled on Kai's ankle.

"Oh, it's real alright!" Kai bent down, grabbing and squeezing his Jangmo-o. "We're going to become Gym Challengers little buddy!"

Jangmo-o squealed in delight. Kai let his friend go, looking at him contemptibly. "To think that after all these years, it's finally happening." He sighed. "I'm sure dad would be happy to see this."

Kai got up, looking at the TV Once more.

"Well then, Mr. Kai! Be ready to get inaugurated tomorrow! The Budew Drop Inn awaits your presence!" Rose announced. "And to all our other challengers, good luck! We'll see you bright and early tomorrow!"

Kai smiled, nodding at the TV. "I'm ready, Mr. Rose."