Editing Fuyuu Gakuen no Alice and Shirley:Volume1 Chapter1 (section)

=== Part 2 ===
He took the automatic bus from the station plaza and fifteen minutes later he got off at <Alrescha> bus stop.

With his arm linked with Shirley's, Masaki was forcefully dragged along.

"Look, we're here–"

He was in close contact with her softness and body heat, so he couldn't relax.

"I, I got it. I won't get lost. So I'm fine."

The area was overflowing with students heading to school. They were all wearing the same uniform as Shirley.

Since he was new and his arm was intertwined with Shirley's, everyone's attention was on him.

"Masaki, have you heard about the classes yet?"

"No, but I think you should tell me where the staff room is when we're done. Or maybe I should say that I haven't heard anything. I was given some papers but even though I took a quick look at it, I didn't understand anything."

"Alright. Our class is Year 2 Class A. It's on the 45th floor..."

"Seriously, the 45th floor!?"

"Uh huh. Alrescha goes all the way up to the 60th floor. The cafeteria at the top and has a really good view."

Masaki looked up at the building she pointed out.

A glass skyscraper towering over its surroundings. The first floor had an entrance way, and was connected to the 2nd and 3rd floors in a step-like manner. From the 4th floor up it was all glass.

"Is it all classrooms!? I thought this was a corporation building, not a school."

"Ahaha. From the 1st to the 29th floor there's nothing but special classrooms, from the 30th to the 35th are the teacher's rooms, then up to the 40th are the 1st year classrooms, up to the 45th are the second year classrooms and up to the 50th are the 3rd year classrooms."

"Woah~...what about from the 51st floor to the top?"

"The cafeteria!"

"That's quite amazing!"

"I feel the same way I did when I started primary and middle school. Even though I was surprised that I had to change schools, I got used to the idea almost immediately."

"That okay but...by the way, Shirley, shouldn't we separate our arms now?"

"Why?"

"Well...isn't it a little embarrassing? Everyone's looking..."

She gave a carefree smile.

"Nihaha, don’t worry too much about it Masaki!"

"Re, really?"

Masaki wondered if he was being too self-conscious.

"Now, let's go!"

"A, ah!"

They passed through the entrance and into a passage that was wide enough to be called a station concourse, and again they went through a large hall. This seemed to be the heart of the skyscraper.

In the center of the hall was a wall where a curve was drawn, or maybe it should be called a round pillar. Many elevators were lined up, and on the wall were the words <<ELEVATOR PILLAR>>.

One by one, the students went inside them.

"There's a lot."

"But wouldn't there be a long wait? Especially when it's lunch."

"Is it because there are a lot of students?"

"Since there are elevators all along the circumference of the big pillar, everyone will line up in one direction and on the opposite side there will be no one there."

"Hahaha...I see."

"Are there stairs as well?"

"Yeah, there is. What floor is the staff room on again"

"The 30th floor–"

"No, no, that's completely wrong."

"Erm, there are two sets of stairs on the school's east block and west block."

"Why does it seem like you want to use the stairs!?"

"Eh? ...Because the stairs are there?"

"It isn't mountain climbing you know."

While they were standing there talking, somebody at the back loudly exclaimed "Wha–!?" in a sharp voice.

As soon as he turned around, he saw a man's eyes widen in shock.

The man seemed to have a well-built physique, had short evenly cut hair and had a squareish face, all of this together gave off a grim impression. Everyone's eyes were turned towards Masaki and Shirley.

He talked like he wanted to wring every last drop out of Masaki.

"Sa, Sakurazaka-san! Who is that guy!?"

"Hmm? He's Masaki."

It was an lethargic answer. Since she didn't use a lot of words, Masaki decided to add to it.

"I'm Kusunoki Masaki. Today is my first day at this school."

"A transfer student? Then have you just awoken? This guy is entwined with Sakurazaka-san's a, arm..."

His shoulders started shaking.

"Who...is he?"

"This guys name is Ishounuma, and he is my classmate, and now yours. That's all."

"Sakurazaka-san, that isn't all, right?"

"That is all there is to it."

"Hmph, you're as cold as ever."

Ishounuma acted friendly towards Shirley but had a sense of strong hostility towards Masaki. It seemed like he was ready to attack Masaki at any moment.

"––And? Who are you to Sakurazaka-san?"

Even though this was his first time meeting Masaki, he acted really aggressive towards him.

Masaki shrunk back.

"We're only childhood friends....Hey, Shirley, as I thought if we're like this, people will misunderstand."

He softly unlinked their arms.

She looked disappointed while she followed what he said.

However, even that didn't settle Ishounuma's anger. Instead, his eyes became bloodshot.

"Yo, You're not using honorifics with her name...!? Hey, you! Even though you've been Sakurazaka-san's acquaintance for some time, it doesn't mean that you can act over-familiar with her does it!?"

"I didn't mean to do that."

"Sakurazaka-san too! Don't act friendly towards some low level guy who just awoke."

After hearing Ishounuma's words, Shirley had an angry look on her face.

"What was that? Isn't it strange to choose who you will be friends with by their level alone!?"

"Heh!?"

"Let's go Masaki. I'm fine with the stairs."

"I guess it's no use."

He found it hard to get into conflicts with other people. It might have seemed hard to go all the way up to the 30th floor using the stairs, but Masaki chose to do that because it was easier then arguing with Ishounuma.

Ishounuma ground his teeth loudly.

He kept on glaring at Masaki until he had left his line of sight.