After finishing their meal, Alex, Hayato, Angelo, and Tatsuya headed down the strip toward the local arcade. They hadn't even crossed the threshold when a tall, broad-shouldered teenager stepped directly into their path. Dressed in a black leather jacket with a high pompadour, he carried a heavy, self-assured stance and a faint, smug smirk.
"You guys look like you're looking for trouble," he said, rolling his shoulders and popping his knuckles with a dull crack.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Alex asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Marco Rossi," the guy replied, his grin widening. "The future Cloud Guardian of the Luciano family."
Hayato, Angelo, and Tatsuya exchanged quick, surprised glances. Up until this point, the position of the elusive Cloud Guardian had remained completely open.
Marco eyed Alex up and down, his gaze skeptical. "So you're the direct bloodline? You don't look like much of a boss to me."
Alex didn't take the bait, keeping his voice perfectly even. "What do you want, Rossi?"
"Word gets around. I heard about your warm-up in the gym earlier," Marco said, leaning in slightly. "I want to see what you've actually got. Let's make it interesting."
"What kind of deal are you proposing?"
"Simple," Marco said with a shrug. "We step outside. If you can take me down, I'll fall in line and do whatever you ask. But if I beat you, you do things my way."
Alex let out a dry chuckle. "You seem pretty confident."
"I know what I can do," Marco countered instantly. "So, do we have a deal?"
"Let's find out," Alex said, rolling his sleeves up.
The group moved into the vacant alley behind the arcade. Hayato, Angelo, and Tatsuya took up defensive positions along the perimeter as a few bystanders gathered near the mouth of the alley to watch.
The moment the distance closed, Marco moved with deceptive speed for his size. He slipped past Alex's guard, launching a tight combination of heavy punches and sharp kick counters that forced Alex back onto his heels.
Taking a quick step back to reset his footing, Alex focused. Reading Marco's predictable rhythm, Alex ducked beneath a sweeping right cross and countered with a sharp left to the ribs. The two traded blows in the narrow space, the sound of heavy breathing and striking fists echoing off the brick walls.
Spotting a slight drop in Marco's left shoulder as he prepared another heavy swing, Alex stepped inside the arc, driving a clean, decisive right hook directly to Marco's chin.
The impact sent Marco stumbling sideways. His knees buckled, and he hit the pavement hard before skidding to a stop against the wall.
Silence fell over the alley, followed by low murmurs from the onlookers.
Marco sat there for a second, rubbing his jaw. Then, a slow, genuinely amused grin broke across his face as he pushed himself back to his feet. "Alright... not bad at all. A deal's a deal. What are your orders, boss?"
Alex adjusted his collar and looked him in the eye. "Just remember one thing: raw strength doesn't mean much if you don't know how to use it. True strength is knowing when to hold back."
Marco raised a brow, processing the words in silence for a brief moment before turning on his heel and walking off down the street.
As the group made their way back toward the main boulevard, Tatsuya broke the quiet, running a hand through his hair. "Is every day with the Luciano family like this? Just constant challenges and street fights?"
"Only when someone tries to test us," Alex said quietly. "It's not just about fighting, Tatsuya. It's about loyalty, strength, and keeping the family together."
Hayato and Angelo gave firm nods of agreement. They walked on together, well aware that as the family continued to gather, even greater trials lay just around the corner.