Obtaining Evidence

I had just left HQ when the thought crossed my mind.
'I can't possibly do this alone, if I want that evidence quick, then I should enlist some help.'

I pull out my phone and send a message to Tomo and Aya.
"This is gonna sound crazy, but I'm gonna need your help."

...

I waited for them in a nearby park, I had asked them to be quick, and it didn't take long for them to arrive.
"Heyy~"
"Hey Aya."
"So, Kazu, let me see if I read this right, you want US to chase down Neptune?"
'Tomo sounds sceptical, I don't blame him.'
"Not quite, we just need to find evidence of him being weird, or bad, or... I don't know, something!"
"You really think he was lying to Tarou?"
"I don't know why he did what he did, but he was definitely being weird asking that of him. There's no way he would be failing, you guys believe me right?"
Aya doesn't hesitate.
"Of course! Even if we didn't, this still seems like fun!"
"Yeah, we're in.
Why did Tarou accept being tricked like that though?"
"...I guess he's just been very determined to become a hero, and it backfired on him in this case."
"So what's the plan again? Just walk around town?"
"Basically we split up, I take the south, Tomo you go east, Aya you take west, we'll check everywhere up to the river, then go from there.
If you spot Neptune make sure to tell us, and we'll get to you as fast as we can.
Hopefully taking videos with our phones will be enough."
"Got it, let's see who can find him first, I'm going!"
"Oh? Tomo challenging us? We'll see about that, bye now!"
Just like that, they're off.
'Turning it into a competition, I guess no harm in adding in a little fun like that, nice one Tomo.'

Without wasting much time I set off to scour the south side as thoroughly as I can.

...

Hours have passed, I've checked absolutely everywhere using my teleportation magic to get better vantage points, and still nothing.
'Damn, I wonder if the other two found anything yet.'
"Hey, I've found nothing so far, how are you guys doing?"
"Nothing either, I've come up to the river now, and you Aya?"
"ugh nothinggg, I think I'm close to you Tomo, I'll meet up."
'Nothing either, is he north?'
Just as I'm about to go and do one last check.
Ping!
I quickly pull out my phone, almost dropping it.
"I heard a sound just now, I think it came from the river bank? Maybe on the other side."
'...!
Could it be him?'
"Hold on Tomo, I'm almost at where you're at, I'll go investigate it!"
"Huh? Let's regroup first, Kazu is still far."
"Yeah, let's regroup, where are you exactly?"
I wait for a little bit without an answer.
"Guys?"
Finally Tomo texts back.
"Sorry! Aya suddenly showed up and then took off, I tried convincing her to wait, but that didn't work, we're near the bridge over the river, I'll keep checking some more places around here."
"Got it, I basically finished exploring my area, so I'll quickly make my way over there."

I send my message and take off, teleporting as fast as my magic will allow it, from roof to roof towards the river.
'Hopefully Aya doesn't get herself in any danger! ...But at the same time, I'd be glad if that sound was something to do with Neptune.'
Just as I started to make my way, another notification arrives.
Ping!
'Hm? Another update?'
"Kazu, Tomo, get to me as fast as you can, I found him!"
"Was it that sound??"
"I see Neptune."
'Finally!'
"Stay out of his sight, I'm on my way, Tomo get to her as fast as you can."

'Let's see if you're really a hero.'

...

I arrive at the location, now tired from all the previous teleporting around for hours. I see Tomo and Aya here, waiting for me.
'This is... Where he caught Inferno.'
"Kazu, come here."
"What's up Aya, where is he?"
"Right there, under the bridge."
"I already concealed my presence, you two should do the same, or hide."
As Tomo says that, Aya turns invisible.
"I think we're good right now, did you figure out what the sound was? Was it him?"
"I couldn't see what he was doing clearly, but I think he punched something? Maybe he's making a hole under the bridge."
"So, what now Kazu?"
"We stay hidden from him and follow close behind, we need to capture anything that might reveal his true self."
'Sure hope I'm right, or this is gonna be tough to explain if we get caught...'
"Got it. Sure hope you're right about this. No wait, maybe I shouldn't?"
"Guys, shut it, I think he's moving!"
Just as Aya said, he left from under the bridge and started walking elsewhere.
"He's moving, let's go!"
"...You guys go on ahead, I need to check what he was doing under there."
"You serious?"
"Don't worry, I'll be able to catch up quick with my teleportation.
Keep on him, and don't lose him!"
"...Fine, let's go Aya."
They set off after him as I wait a little longer, just in case something else happens, or in case someone appears. After it looks clear to do so I make my move and quickly get under the bridge.
'What a mess...'
There were bricks and debris all over the place, with a fairly big hole on the wall.
'What did he do here?
...I can't tell at all. I'll at least take a picture of this.'
I take the picture evidence and quickly run to catch up with them, teleporting to the roofs so that I won't be seen.

...

Doesn't take long to catch up, I see Tomo and Aya and join them.
"I'm back."
"So, anything interesting?"
"A big hole on the side of the wall, not sure why, what about here?"
"We saw Neptune enter that factory area, so we waited for you."
"Me and Tomo will sneak in, teleport up and see if you can find where he might be from somewhere above."
I do as Aya instructed and slowly check where he might have gone. I look around the factories and warehouses, slowly and silently, to not accidentally alert anyone to my presence, until finally spotting something. Several people talking in between a bunch of some kind of vertical gas containers, suspicious of this I send the group a text.
"I think I spotted them, do you guys see the area filled with some sort of gas tanks I think they are?"
"Yeah! We're on the way, get to us fast, I think Aya is inching to run ahead."
I make my way back to them. Having finally reached our objective Aya looks back at me and signals to come closer, I do so and take a look at what they're both looking at.

'What? No. It can't be.'
Despite me having made up this plan and having bet on it happening, seeing this still fills me with shock.
We were looking at Neptune very much not being good, seemingly calmly talking with Inferno, Red, and White, who were somehow out of prison.
Suddenly Aya taps me on the shoulder, I look and she points to the phone.
'Right, we should stay quiet.'
"Kazu!! YOU WERE RIGHT!"
"Yeah... Though I'm still shocked."
"Who wouldn't be, but should we be texting right now? Someone needs to take a video of this!"
"Right, Tomo, since you mentioned it, could you do it?"
"On it."
I see Tomo start recording.
"Is this really enough evidence?"
"All three of them should currently be in prison, I don't know if it's the evidence I need, but something is definitely happening. Some sort of conspiracy maybe?"
"I can't believe we're now involved in something this serious, make sure to pay us back in the future, ok~? ;)"
"...Right."
"Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood, I still don't know why he did it, but I guess this means Tarou did get tricked?"
"At first I thought he might have only wanted the credit, but now? I'm not so sure..."

'I don't know why you did it, but I got you now.'