Alex, Hayate, Angelo, and Tatsuya were walking towards the park when they noticed a figure leaning against a tree. As they got closer, they could see that it was a young man with silver hair and a sly smile.
"Who's this guy?" Tatsuya asked, eyeing the newcomer suspiciously.
"That's Giovanni De Luca," Hayato said, recognizing the man. "He's the soon-to-be Mist Guardian of the Luciano family."
Giovanni straightened up as they approached. "So you're the new boss, huh?" he said, his smile growing wider. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Alex studied Giovanni, trying to gauge his true intentions. He had heard rumors that the diablero family had been trying to make a power play against the Luciano family, and he wondered if this meeting was a part of that plan.
"What do you want, Giovanni?" Alex asked, his voice cool and steady.
"I just wanted to see what kind of man would be taking over the Luciano family," Giovanni said, his smile never faltering. "And I have to say, you're not what I was expecting."
Alex bristled at the comment but kept his cool. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, you're not like the other Luciano bosses I've seen," Giovanni said. "You're young, and you seem like you're still figuring things out. It's refreshing, really."
Alex wasn't sure if he should take that as a compliment or an insult, but he decided to let it go. "What can I do for you, Giovanni?"
"I was hoping we could spar," Giovanni said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I've heard that you're quite the fighter."
Alex hesitated for a moment before nodding. He knew that it was important to show strength and resolve in front of potential enemies, and a sparring match could be a good way to do that.
"Fine," Alex said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's do it."
The two of them stepped onto the grassy field, and Giovanni wasted no time in attacking. He was fast and nimble, darting around Alex and striking him from all angles. But Alex was no slouch himself, and he soon found his rhythm, countering Giovanni's attacks with powerful strikes of his own.
The other three watched from the sidelines, cheering and shouting encouragement. Tatsuya was especially enthusiastic, shouting out tips and advice at every opportunity.
The match went on for several minutes, with both fighters taking and receiving blows. In the end, though, Alex emerged victorious, knocking Giovanni to the ground with a final punch.
Giovanni got up, dusting himself off and grinning. "Not bad," he said, holding out a hand to Alex. "You're tougher than I thought."
Alex shook his hand, feeling a sense of respect for the man despite their initial tension. "Thanks," he said. "You're pretty good yourself."
Giovanni chuckled. "Maybe we can do this again sometime," he said. "I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the future."
And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the trees. Alex, Hayate, Angelo, and Tatsuya watched him go, wondering what the future held for the Luciano family and their newest boss.