He was genetically programmed, then reinforced, on the matter of thinking five steps ahead in any conversation. He didn't even realise he was doing it anymore, most of the time.

He also very much wanted to say no, but that would be a lie, he realised. "I have no idea," Ender said, truthfully. "I'm a creature of responsibilities. But that has very little to do with anything. I'm not letting some Fandom phantom dictate what I will or won't do with my life."