[Minato makes him suffer a little bit, fixing him with his flat stare across the short divide as he pulls at the other boy's cheek like taffy. But between Ryoji's troubled look and the bizarre, elastic expression of his face, his stonefaced expression quickly softens into a rare, indulgent smile.

Satisfied he's made Ryoji suffer enough, he swaps pinching for petting, smoothing out the sting with the pad of his thumb while chuckling under his breath.]

.... I.. don't know Atsumi-san all that well, yet. I don't know if we're all that alike, either.

[His smile dims a little bit; though he tries not to wear it on his face, his heart is a little troubled. Perhaps subconsciously he leans a little closer, letting part of that weight within him rest against Ryoji, each propping the other up.]

... But I think we're both happier, having met you. So....