First Snow, Last Promise

Natsuki keeps his hand over the small box on his shelf before he leaves for work. The folded paper inside holds a child's tooth, and he still feels guilty every time he touches it. He is the last living person who met the former demon king, yet nobody at the house knows why that old war still wakes him up at night. He serves tea, learns manners, and takes insults from people born with titles. Then a rival from the academy turns cruel in public and makes him look weak in front of everyone. Natsuki wants to fight back. He also wants to protect the people in the house from the same kind of pride that ruined him once. The worst part is how often his anger sounds like duty. The bent locker key in...