[he has to stop and think before he responds, similarly uncharacteristic; it's not often he pays anyone respect in this way, respects their right to have secrets]
[it's true that he wants to know for practical reasons how helpful Gau and his cronies would be in getting out. but it's more true that he just wants to know about Gau and his cronies, full stop -- they're all hiding something, and anything hidden is irresistible to the boy raised to dig at the heart of every secret and make everything known to him]
[but. it's not just somebody, some loser with feelings he doesn't care about trampling over in his desire to know everything -- it's Gau Meguro, and Badou has no idea how to treat the other boy's feelings]
[(his mother died, and he was left alone. one time, he made him a cake for a shitty birthday. he was smart and proactive and above all, unafraid)]
[there's enough for both columns (lie now, then force the issue; lie now, then don't), and that in itself tells him what to do]
Re: phonecall
[it's true that he wants to know for practical reasons how helpful Gau and his cronies would be in getting out. but it's more true that he just wants to know about Gau and his cronies, full stop -- they're all hiding something, and anything hidden is irresistible to the boy raised to dig at the heart of every secret and make everything known to him]
[but. it's not just somebody, some loser with feelings he doesn't care about trampling over in his desire to know everything -- it's Gau Meguro, and Badou has no idea how to treat the other boy's feelings]
[(his mother died, and he was left alone. one time, he made him a cake for a shitty birthday. he was smart and proactive and above all, unafraid)]
[there's enough for both columns (lie now, then force the issue; lie now, then don't), and that in itself tells him what to do]
Fine.