Gurren Lagann - mecha lord

Age 14

Standing at 5'9", with short, jet-black hair and a bag strapped across his chest, Goro had grown significantly over the years. Dressed in nothing but brown shorts made of pigmole leather, he exuded a rugged, capable presence that reflected his years of hard work and ingenuity.

Kamina, now just a few centimeters shorter than Goro, carried his usual fiery spirit, while Simon had managed to grow past the trauma of his parents' death. The three of them had formed an unshakable bond, each supporting the other in their own way.

Giha Village had also transformed drastically. Under Goro's planning and guidance, the once-primitive underground settlement now carried a touch of modernity. The villagers had embraced his advancements, and with improved drilling technology, they had expanded the railway tracks for miles, connecting different sections of the underground. The village, once stagnant, now thrived.

Yet, despite all the progress, Goro couldn't shake a lingering frustration.

"Still, how have I not found Lagann yet?!" Goro let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair.

He had spent countless hours scouring the underground caverns, searching for the iconic Gunman he knew had to be hidden somewhere nearby. Despite his best efforts, Lagann remained elusive, leaving Goro to wonder if he was missing a vital clue

Goro marked another cross on the map he had painstakingly drawn over the years, detailing the labyrinthine underground and all the tunnels created by Giha Village's expansions.

"Lagann? What's that?" Simon's voice came from behind him.

Startled, Goro quickly folded the map and stuffed it into his bag. "It's nothing," he said a little too quickly.

Simon tilted his head, clearly curious, but didn't press further. Goro, however, was left uneasy. He didn't fully understand why he kept the secret from his two best friends, but deep down, he knew the answer. He wanted Lagann for himself.

It was selfish, and he knew it. But Goro had already lived one life full of missed opportunities and regrets. This time, he wasn't going to let anything slip through his fingers, not even the chance to pilot the legendary Gunman.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Goro turned to Simon, who was covered in dirt from head to toe.

"Simon, I've told you before, you don't need to risk yourself digging anymore. We have machines for that now," Goro said, brushing off some dirt from Simon's shoulder.

"I... I know," Simon replied hesitantly. "But digging is a part of me. It's where I feel most comfortable. It's like the soil speaks to me, guiding me to where I should go. So, it's no risk at all."

Goro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're impossible sometimes," he muttered.

"Lay off him, Goro!" Kamina's voice cut through the conversation as he swaggered into view. "How's he supposed to grow if you keep babying him?"

Simon's face lit up. "Bro!" he said, clearly delighted to have Kamina on his side.

Goro rolled his eyes but couldn't help smirking. Kamina always had a way of boosting Simon's confidence, even if it sometimes involved taking playful jabs at Goro.

"All right, fine," Goro relented. "Just don't overdo it, Simon."

"Don't worry, Goro," Simon said with a bright smile. "I'll be fine. Trust me!"

Watching Simon's determination, Goro felt a pang of guilt for keeping his plans to himself. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was something he had to do alone… for now.

Age 15

"Goro," Kamina said suddenly, his tone unusually serious.

"Yeah?" Goro responded, looking up from his work.

"When are we planning to go to the surface? Me, you, and Simon," Kamina asked, his eyes fixed on Goro.

Goro paused, caught off guard by the question. He hesitated before answering, "We're not ready yet. Let's stay in Giha Village a while longer."

Kamina's expression tightened. "You keep saying the same thing. What do you mean, 'not ready'? Ready for what? It's like you know what's up there, even though you've never been there before."

Goro could see the frustration growing in Kamina. He couldn't blame him, life in Giha Village was starting to wear down on Goro too. Every corner of the underground was monotonous: dirt walls, endless tunnels, and the ever-present mole pigs. Even Goro, with his memories of a past life, felt the suffocating sameness of it all.

But he couldn't risk it, not yet. The surface wasn't the dreamlike freedom Kamina imagined. It was a battleground, crawling with Beastmen and their Gunmen, scouring the land to hunt and exterminate humanity. Without the proper tools or preparation, stepping onto the surface was as good as suicide.

That's why Goro had to find Lagann. It wasn't just for him anymore; it was their best hope for survival.

"I know you want to get out of this place, Kamina. Believe me, I feel the same way," Goro said earnestly. "But you have to trust me. We're not ready yet, and I'm asking you to wait just a little longer, okay? Right, brother?"

He held out his fist.

Kamina hesitated, frustration still evident on his face. But after a moment, he let out a deep sigh and bumped Goro's fist with his own. "All right," he said reluctantly. "But you'd better not keep me waiting forever."

Goro nodded, grateful for Kamina's trust, even if it was begrudging. He knew the time would come soon, and when it did, they'd need every ounce of strength they could muster to face the world above.

Age 16

Goro stood silently before the lifeless body of Gosse, his mentor. The elder had passed away peacefully in his sleep, a natural death. Despite the solemn moment, Goro felt little sadness. Their relationship had been pragmatic at best, an exchange of benefits. Goro had gained access to the generators, while Gosse enjoyed the prestige of mentoring the "village hero."

In Giha Village, there were no ceremonies for the dead. The deceased, along with rubble and garbage, were unceremoniously disposed of in the deep pit at the edge of the settlement. It was a harsh reality, but one Goro had long grown accustomed to.

"Goro, are you okay?" Simon's small voice broke the silence. His large, concerned eyes were fixed on Goro, mistaking his quiet demeanor for grief.

Goro smiled faintly and patted Simon's head. "I'm fine, Simon. Don't worry about me."

"Goro, come on. We're your brothers! Just let it all out!" Kamina chimed in, his tone full of conviction, as if he could will Goro into grieving properly.

Goro sweatdropped, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "No, really, I'm fine. I promise."

But Kamina and Simon exchanged knowing looks, clearly convinced that Goro was bottling up his feelings.

"It's okay to cry, you know," Kamina added, crossing his arms with a self-assured nod. "Even the toughest guys let it out sometimes."

"Yeah," Simon said earnestly, "we're here for you, Goro."

Goro sighed inwardly, realizing it was useless to argue with them. While their concern was endearing, he didn't feel the overwhelming grief they expected. Still, he appreciated their intentions.

"Thanks, you two," Goro said finally. "Really, it means a lot."

Satisfied, Kamina and Simon backed off, content that they had done their duty as Goro's brothers.

As they left him alone, Goro glanced one last time at Gosse's body, now being carried away to the disposal pit. He wasn't sad, but he couldn't shake a strange, fleeting sense of finality.

"Rest well, old man," Goro muttered under his breath.

Age 17

"Bro! Goro! I found something cool!" Simon burst into Goro's room, a space that had essentially turned into the group's unofficial hangout. His face was lit with excitement, the kind that was becoming routine whenever Simon unearthed a new "treasure."

"What is it this time? Another weirdly colored crystal?" Kamina jabbed, leaning back with a smirk.

"No, it's nothing like that! It's something I've never seen before, it's got a huge face!" Simon exclaimed, his hands moving animatedly as he tried to describe his discovery.

Kamina blinked. "Huh. Yeah, that's definitely weird."

"And get this," Simon continued, his excitement growing. "It's hard as steel! My drill couldn't even scratch it!"

Goro, who had been sitting quietly at his workbench, suddenly froze. His mind raced as Simon's words clicked into place.

"Wait… did you say a face?" Goro asked, his tone sharper now.

Simon nodded vigorously.

Goro's heart began to pound with anticipation. Could it be? After all this time… He could hardly contain the surge of excitement that coursed through him.

"Simon!" Goro said, standing up abruptly. "Show me the way. Right now!"

Simon looked a little startled by Goro's intensity but quickly recovered. "Yeah! Come on, I'll show you!" he said, already turning to lead the way.

Kamina, noticing Goro's unusual reaction, raised an eyebrow. "What's with you all of a sudden? You know something about this?"

"Maybe," Goro replied, his voice steady but his eyes burning with determination. "Just trust me, Kamina. This might be the start of everything we've been waiting for."

Without another word, the three of them hurried out of the room.