June 7, Wednesday. Weather: clear.
The new district of Driftveil City, a port city connected to destinations far and wide, was packed with people.
Unlike the old district near the mines, the new district lay close to the sea. The port's enormous market and the new district's modern buildings had a distinctly high-tech feel.
The presenters from Unova New's TV station had arrived first thing that morning.
Besides them, the production crews from Sinnoh Now, Johto's Radio Tower, and Kalos's KTC program were also there. These media outlets would broadcast and report on the entire Inter-School Exchange Tournament live.
"Here's the latest news from the front lines. The schools that qualified for this Inter-School Exchange Tournament are Rainbow University's Trainer Academy, Rustboro Academy, Snowpoint Academy, and Striaton Academy.
"The four teams representing their schools have now arrived at the competitors' check-in point!"
Outside the Driftveil World Youth Arena, a reporter holding a microphone delivered her report professionally.
"Which of the four exchange teachers' students will come out on top? Which school will take this year's crown? Stay tuned!"
Put plainly, the Inter-School Exchange Tournament tested which of the four qualifying schools had the best teaching standards.
The method was simple, too. There was no definitive first place in literature, but no room for second place in combat. Each academy's outstanding teacher taught elsewhere for one academic year.
Then their students were brought together for a fight, and the answer became clear.
After all, no matter how extravagantly someone talked themselves up, competition results did not lie.
And selecting talent elsewhere also prevented schools from deliberately arranging for prodigies or stand-ins to compete.
Very fair!
Whichever school won would lead the education world for the next three years, receiving the greatest support in both educational resources and student recruitment.
Apparently, when