[Whereas the bigger picture is where Near prefers to look, puzzling out how the current moment will slot into it. Which can leave him slow to react to immediate situations. It's one of the places where the contrast between them is the most stark. Frankly, if the decision proves to be a sound one and someone does kill the girl, Near will not be bothered. He simply thinks they don't have enough information yet to make that determination.
[... And now he's glad they're not speaking in person, because his face pulls into a thoughtful frown. "You've never killed anyone before, have you." Mello says it so certainly, and has every reason to do so. He would even have been correct, had it not been for Near's time Traveling. He'd had the real Death Note in his hands back home, could have written Mikami's name to ensure he would act as needed. But he'd decided against it.
[But on the Grid . . .
[He'd been Infiltrating, that time. Hadn't been himself, but the person in that world that resonated most closely with him. Regardless, the actions, the result, the feelings are all first-hand experiences for him. He has killed, out of necessity, and it had not been an easy decision. Not considering who he'd killed. So in truth, he knows exactly what it is like. He'd felt awful for having to kill Mai while he'd been Infiltrating, and when he'd come back to himself later, he'd still felt that way, if a bit less keenly. He'd filed it away, uncomfortably, but there is a bit of care for her that still lingers even now.
[He hates it. But it's there.
[His tone is unchanged when he speaks again:] It looks easy to the outside world and is painting you in a bad light. I should not have to be the one to tell you this; you're supposed to the one who handles social situations more smoothly. [No need to tell him about Mai. None at all. And he doesn't feel like getting back into that discussion about what's necessary. He'd disagreed with Mello's final "necessary" act back home, too.]
no subject
[... And now he's glad they're not speaking in person, because his face pulls into a thoughtful frown. "You've never killed anyone before, have you." Mello says it so certainly, and has every reason to do so. He would even have been correct, had it not been for Near's time Traveling. He'd had the real Death Note in his hands back home, could have written Mikami's name to ensure he would act as needed. But he'd decided against it.
[But on the Grid . . .
[He'd been Infiltrating, that time. Hadn't been himself, but the person in that world that resonated most closely with him. Regardless, the actions, the result, the feelings are all first-hand experiences for him. He has killed, out of necessity, and it had not been an easy decision. Not considering who he'd killed. So in truth, he knows exactly what it is like. He'd felt awful for having to kill Mai while he'd been Infiltrating, and when he'd come back to himself later, he'd still felt that way, if a bit less keenly. He'd filed it away, uncomfortably, but there is a bit of care for her that still lingers even now.
[He hates it. But it's there.
[His tone is unchanged when he speaks again:] It looks easy to the outside world and is painting you in a bad light. I should not have to be the one to tell you this; you're supposed to the one who handles social situations more smoothly. [No need to tell him about Mai. None at all. And he doesn't feel like getting back into that discussion about what's necessary. He'd disagreed with Mello's final "necessary" act back home, too.]