"You had better be careful. Plans that call for such precise calculation may not be the best approach for you." It isn't that Near doesn't have an eye for detail. They all do, at Wammy's House. It's just that Near has never been quite as meticulous as the rest, showing a talent for altering his plans on the fly rather than carefully considering every detail.

"Still -- on the whole, it was executed very well. You showed remarkable initiative, and you responded quickly and effectively when it began to go wrong." The compliment is delivered evenly and coolly. If Near had been less careless and his getaway had been cleaner, Lawliet would have been more openly complimentary, but the young man has a long way to go.