The Past is Epilogue
Tomorrow is when the story begins
Word Count: 432
Characters: Simon, Rossiu
Warning: Spoilers up to Episode 16
Of course it's difficult at first, because the only thing they know how to do is fight back against whatever stands in their way, and none of them know the first thing about setting up or running a government. But there aren't many humans alive – perhaps five hundred thousand, in their scattered holes and hiding places – and he's confident that somehow they'll think of a way together.
They build a city out of the husks of Ganmen and the shattered remnants of Tepperin. It takes a year before it could call itself self-sufficient; by then, Simon has shot up to a respectable height, and they realize that the fight is over.
"S-Simon-san," Rossiu says, finding him in the Dai-Ganzen. It holds memories for all of them, and the fact that Simon can go to it freely is a sign that he is beginning to move on. "I've been- looking for you."
"Eh?" Rossiu blushes when Simon looks up from whatever he's making- he doesn't pretend that he knows Kamina better that Simon does, but he felt him through Gurren and he feels him through Simon now. "Oh, Rossiu. How is the relocation? Have you found any more villages?"
"F-Fine. I – well, I've been speaking with many people, and we – want you to lead us."
Simon frowns. "Lead?"
"Uh – yes, lead. We want you to head the new government."
That gets Simon's attention, and he puts the drill down. "I'm not a leader," he says, quietly. "Rossiu. You'll be a better leader than me."
"That's not true!" Simon cocks his head, and Rossiu pauses a few moments to calm down. "What I mean is – people look up to you, Simon-san. You offer us…hope."
"Rossiu." He picks up his drill again, and returns to the stone he was carving. It reminds Rossiu suddenly of those terrible long days after they found Kamina dead in the cockpit, when all that the boy could do was dig, and dig, and dig, and dig. He speaks with his back to Rossiu. "…I'll do it, but on two conditions."
"Y-yes, Simon-san."
He turns around and grins. "One. Be my secretary. Maybe I'll make a good figurehead, but I know nothing about running a country…and two, call it Kamina City."
Rossiu returns the smile. "Yes, Simon-san."
He stays there all night as Simon finishes the statue, a ten-foot replica of Kamina hewn from bedrock that seems almost too small to represent the whole man. Then, as the sun begins to rise behind them, they gather up what's left of their childhoods and turn away from the remains of the day.
