Miaomiao nodded, even though the person on the other end of the call couldn't see her.
"Yep, tennis is pretty fun. His stamina just wasn't very good. I'd only just gotten into the swing of things when he got tired and ran off."
There was still a hint of regret in Miaomiao's voice, as though she really wished he had stayed and played with her a little longer.
Having figured out what had happened, Dick couldn't help pressing a hand to his forehead.
Oh, Miaomiao. I'm afraid that classmate of yours will never want to play tennis with you again.
A brief silence fell over the living room.
Bruce suppressed the guilt churning inside him. He knew very well that some missed opportunities could never be recovered. All he could do from now on was make sure the same thing never happened to his other children.
At that thought, Bruce turned his gaze toward Tim and Damian.
The moment Tim caught Bruce's complicated look, the intellect of the World's Second-Greatest Detective kicked into gear.
"I swear, I haven't been bullied." Tim solemnly raised a hand, taking a jab at himself along the way. "Bruce, you know I was already studying at Anders Academy. If we're being honest, I'm exactly the 'pampered little rich boy' Dick and Jason talk about. Nobody bullies me."
Strictly speaking, though, there had been some bullying. After all, Tim had been the exemplary child other parents held up as a model since he was little-smart and sensible, exactly the sort petty people tended to resent.
But although Tim seemed refined and easygoing, he had never been the type to quietly take a loss.
Those who tried to trip him up generally ended up inexplicably falling victim to their own schemes. Sometimes, when Tim happened to be