RYOJI KAJI<br/><br/>The long silence that followed Ritsuko's talk was nothing short of deafening as Misato and I walked down the empty corridor, deep in thought about what we had just heard. I couldn't help but think that Gendo Ikari was behind all this, despite Ritsuko's apparent interest in the results of the experiment. But they're just kids. Regardless of how much it affects their synchro-rate, wasn't this going a bit far? Even if it was for the benefit of mankind? Misato suddenly broke the silence, just like her.<br/><br/><strong>"It would seem so. I've never known her to kid around when it comes to one of her experiments,"</strong>I stated flatly. I looked at the honest concern in her eyes--those deep, beautiful eyes of hers. How long had it been since I had been able to see them up close? It seemed too long; though maybe it was the current mood or the path of the conversation that drove my mind in such a direction.<br/><br/><strong>"We should probably just take it one step at a time, see how it develops, how they react to it, then make judgment calls from there,"</strong>I added after some thought, laying my hand on her shoulder comfortingly. I couldn't afford to do too much to defy Nerv in my situation; the less I drew attention to myself, the better. I knew Misato might hate me for it, but it wasn't time to rock the boat just yet.