As Alex, Hayate, Angelo, and Tatsuya walked into the local arcade after their meal, they noticed a tall, muscular boy with a pompadour haircut walking towards them. He wore a black leather jacket and had a smug look on his face.
"Hey, you guys look like you could use a challenge," he said, cracking his knuckles.
"And who might you be?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The name's Marco Rossi," he replied, grinning. "I'm the soon-to-be Cloud Guardian of the Luciano Family."
Hayate, Angelo, and Tatsuya looked at each other in surprise. They hadn't met the Cloud Guardian yet.
"You're a Luciano?" Marco asked, eyeing Alex up and down. "You don't look like much."
Alex didn't react to the insult. "What do you want, Rossi?"
"I heard about your little sparring match earlier today," Marco said. "I want a turn. I'll even make it worth your while."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"If you can beat me in a fight, I'll do whatever you want," Marco said, smirking. "But if I win, you have to do whatever I want."
Alex chuckled. "You think you can beat me that easily?"
"I know I can," Marco replied confidently.
"Well then, let's see what you've got," Alex said, cracking his knuckles.
The two boys stepped outside, and the others followed. The crowd gathered around them, watching in anticipation. The fight began, and Alex was surprised by Marco's speed and agility. He dodged Alex's attacks with ease and countered with powerful punches and kicks.
But Alex was not one to give up easily. He took a deep breath and focused his energy, dodging Marco's attacks and landing powerful blows of his own. The two fought fiercely, their grunts and heavy breathing filling the air.
Finally, Alex saw an opening and took it, delivering a powerful punch to Marco's jaw. Marco stumbled back, dazed, and fell to the ground. The crowd erupted in cheers.
"You're not bad," Marco said, grinning as he got up. "I'll keep my word. What do you want me to do?"
Alex thought for a moment. "Just remember this: you're not the only one who wants to be the strongest. And sometimes, being strong means knowing when to back down."
Marco raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He simply walked away, leaving the others to continue their day at the arcade.
As they walked back to the restaurant, Tatsuya asked, "So, is it always like this in the Luciano Family? Fighting and sparring?"
"Only when we need to," Alex said, shrugging. "It's all about strength and loyalty. And family, of course."
The others nodded in agreement, and they continued their day, wondering what other surprises the Luciano Family had in store for them.