Life In The Limelight : The Depressed Boy Has 4 Yandere Girlfriends-Chapter 34: Cruelty and Kindness

Weeks passed, and Holo found himself locked in a frustrating stalemate with Eleanor. No matter what he said or did, she kept him at arm's length, skillfully deflecting his questions and turning their conversations into verbal battlegrounds. She was a master of her craft, always one step ahead, and Holo couldn't help but feel like he was playing right into her hands.

But as time went on, he started to recognize her patterns. He could see how she worked, how she picked apart his words and used them against him. She wasn't just speaking—she was strategizing, calculating every move with the precision of a chess master. And while it was exhausting, it also made him more determined than ever to understand her.

One day, after yet another unproductive session with Eleanor, Holo decided to approach Graves. He found the man in his office, as composed and unreadable as ever. The faint hum of the facility filled the room as Holo stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.

"Graves," Holo began, his tone firm. "I need to know more about Eleanor."

Graves looked up from the stack of papers on his desk, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Finally getting curious, are we?"

"She's impossible to reach," Holo said, crossing his arms. "No matter what I do, she just shuts me down. If I'm going to have any chance of getting through to her, I need to know where she's coming from. What's her story?"

Graves leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. For a moment, he seemed to consider Holo's request, his sharp eyes studying the young man intently. "Eleanor isn't like the others," he said finally. "You've probably figured that out by now."

"I have," Holo replied. "But why is she like this? Why does she push everyone away?"

Graves sighed, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Because that's all she knows. Eleanor was born into a world where trust was a weakness and kindness was a liability. Her father was a crime boss—one of the most ruthless men I've ever come across. From an early age, she was taught that the only way to survive was to hurt others before they could hurt her."

Holo's chest tightened as he processed Graves's words. "Her father... did he make her like this?"

"In a way," Graves said, his voice steady. "He didn't just teach her how to manipulate and break people—he made her practice it. He used her as a tool, a weapon to tear down his enemies. By the time she was a teenager, she was already more skilled at psychological warfare than most adults."

Holo felt a knot forming in his stomach. "That's horrible," he said quietly. "No one should have to grow up like that."

Graves nodded, his expression grim. "It is. But it's also why she's so dangerous. She doesn't see people as equals—she sees them as targets. And you, Holo, are her latest challenge."

Holo frowned, his hands clenching into fists. "So what am I supposed to do? How do I get through to someone like that?"

Graves leaned forward, his sharp eyes locking onto Holo's. "You find the one thing she doesn't want you to see: her humanity. No matter how cold or calculating she seems, Eleanor is still human. And humans are driven by emotions, whether they like to admit it or not. If you can find a way to connect with her on that level, you might have a chance."

Holo nodded slowly, his mind racing with possibilities. "Do you think she can change?"

Graves's lips curved into a faint smirk. "You've already worked miracles with the others, haven't you? If anyone can reach her, it's you."

Holo stood, a newfound determination filling his chest. "Thanks, Graves. I'll do my best."

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As he left the office, Graves watched him go, his smirk fading into a thoughtful expression. "Good luck, kid," he muttered under his breath. "You're going to need it."

Holo walked into Eleanor's dimly lit room the next day, a calm determination radiating from him. He had spent the night thinking about what Graves had said—about finding her humanity. But he knew it wouldn't be easy. Eleanor was a fortress, fortified by years of manipulation and mistrust. To reach her, he had to try something she would never expect.

Kindness.

Eleanor sat in her usual spot, her piercing green eyes narrowing as he entered. "Back again?" she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "I thought I made it clear that you're wasting your time."

Holo didn't flinch. Instead, he offered her a soft smile as he sat down across from her. "You can keep saying that, but I'm not going anywhere."

Eleanor leaned back, crossing her arms. "Is that so? Then let's cut to the chase. What are you going to pretend to care about today, Holo? My tragic backstory? My supposed humanity? Or maybe you'll just spout some platitudes about how everyone deserves a second chance?"

Holo shook his head, his smile unwavering. "No, I just want to talk. How are you today, Eleanor?"

She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the simplicity of his question. "What?"

"You heard me," Holo said, his voice gentle. "How are you?"

Eleanor stared at him for a moment before scoffing. "How am I? Really? That's what you're leading with?"

"Yep," Holo replied. "I care about how you're feeling."

Her lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor in her eyes. "You're wasting your time. I don't feel anything."

"Everyone feels something," Holo said calmly. "Even you."

Eleanor opened her mouth to retort, but he cut her off. "And before you say that you're cold and heartless, let me remind you that the fact you're still talking to me means there's something inside you that wants to be heard."

Eleanor's smirk faltered for just a moment before she leaned forward, her green eyes narrowing. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But let me make one thing clear, Holo—you don't know me. And you never will."

Holo tilted his head slightly, his smile softening. "You're right. I don't know you—not yet. But I'd like to."

Her eyes flashed with irritation, but there was a flicker of something else beneath the surface—curiosity, perhaps. "Why do you keep doing this?" she asked, her voice sharper than before. "Why do you keep trying to reach me when you know it's pointless?"

"Because I believe you're worth it," Holo said simply.

Eleanor froze, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretching between them like a taut string. Then, she leaned back, crossing her arms again. "You're insufferable."

Holo chuckled softly. "I've been called worse."

Over the next few days, Holo continued his new strategy. Every time Eleanor tried to break him down with her sharp words and cold logic, he responded with warmth and kindness. When she insulted him, he complimented her. When she pointed out his flaws, he reminded her of her strengths. It was a slow, painstaking process, but he could tell he was starting to chip away at her walls.

One day, he even brought her something he had baked himself—a simple loaf of bread, still warm from the oven. He placed it on the table in front of her with a smile. "I thought you might like this."

Eleanor stared at the bread as though it were a foreign object, her expression unreadable. "You baked this?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

"Yep," Holo said. "It's nothing fancy, but I thought it might brighten your day."

She scoffed, pushing the plate away. "I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity," Holo said gently. "It's kindness."

Eleanor's green eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a moment, he thought she might accept it. But then she shook her head, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "I don't trust anything that comes from you."

Holo didn't let her refusal discourage him. He simply shrugged and left the bread on the table. "That's okay," he said. "It's there if you change your mind."