September was a rather special month.
The echoes of July and August's bustle still lingered, and October's drop in temperature had yet to arrive. It was still hot when it ought to be, but a hint of coolness was gradually creeping in.
Schools across China all started their terms around this time, and everyone was talking about just one thing: this year's World Pokémon Championships.
"Hey, did you watch the Championships livestream? That American Champion, Gamino, won again! He's won three championships in a row!"
"He really is damn good at raising Pokémon. But China's results seemed pretty good this year too. We took third place."
"What's so good about that? We couldn't even beat Japan. That third place was really frustrating."
"That's not right. Elite Four Yang was knocked out by Gamino again this year. He never even faced that Japanese guy."
"That American is a real monster. I heard his Pokémon have mastered some incredible move that can destroy heaven and earth in an instant! Even Elite Four Yang's ace, Mega Aggron, couldn't beat him!"
In Kyoto, China, Long Lan was presiding over a meeting in an office bearing the sign of the Chinese Pokémon League's Ministry of Education.
"Our country's best result in this League Championship Tournament was third place, secured by Elite Four Yang Yonggang. In addition, we had three competitors in the top 18, seven in the top 36, twenty-one in the top 62, and thirty-three in the top 100," Yu Xiao reported. "Overall, our results this year have improved considerably over last year's. Our veteran Elite Four members continued to deliver, while our newly appointed members grew stronger with every battle. Ghost-type Elite Four member Wen Xu even fought her way into the Top 24 as a newcomer. Our numbers in the top