[a second or two of silence again; Kaoru's gaze briefly drifts back to the flowers but doesn't stay there long.]

...I had an idea earlier. In the end, all three of them would be able to return regardless of how it works, but... it could also give us the opportunity to regain our losses. [and despite how ruthlessly manipulative he's being in general, he very much means what he says next:] I can't allow that cat to think it can control us.