"Ahh... well, you know me. I blend in anyway... sometimes on purpose."

There was a tiny joking tone to that latter sentence, and the boy's expression seemed to soften as well, if only to reassure this wasn't a big deal. He had upset enough people on a normal day with his usual personality, Minato especially didn't need to do that to anyone when they were supposed to be feeling festive. He was in pain even now, but he would keep holding up those shields to the troubled parts of his heart for as long as he could; it felt like the right thing to do.

And there was that other thing about how marvelously unused to having companions he was. He and Tear were quiet along their walk again for some time, but when he speaks again eventually, it's in a meek voice. There was a mixture of subtle sadness and happiness, which made it hard to pin what it was exactly. Overall, perhaps it could be referred to as a kind of astonishment?

"I didn't think... anyone would be looking for me."

He trailed off and continued walking on, thoughtful, "I guess that's my last surprise of the year. Or... the first of this new one?"