Neferpitou found herself in quite the predicament. The sharp-eared Chimera Ant usually exuded an aura of untouchable dominance, but today, her smugness was replaced with wide-eyed disbelief. Tied up securely in a cold, dimly lit room, her clawed feet were propped up on the table, exposed and vulnerable.

“Gon!” she hissed, her tail flicking in frustration behind her. “What is the meaning of this? Untie me this instant!”

But the determined hunter simply stood at the door, a mischievous grin on his face. “Pitou, you’ve caused so much trouble,” Gon replied, inching closer with deliberate steps. “But today? Today’s payback.”

Pitou’s feline instincts screamed at her to fight back, but the expertly knotted ropes made escape impossible. She could only squirm as Gon pulled up a chair, resting his chin on his hand while studying her soles like a scientist examining a specimen.

“Y-you wouldn’t dare!” Pitou growled, baring her fangs. Her pride was already in tatters, and the idea of being subjected to that—the ultimate indignity—made her ears flatten in panic.

“Oh, I absolutely would,” Gon said, grabbing a stray feather he’d found outside. He twirled it between his fingers, testing its potential as a tool of torment. “You see, Pitou, this isn’t about revenge. It’s about justice.”

Neferpitou’s eyes darted frantically, searching for a way out. “Gon, listen! I—I’ll apologize! I’ll do whatever you want, but don’t—!”

Too late. The feather made contact with her sensitive pads, gliding across with surgical precision. A yelp escaped her lips, quickly followed by uncontrollable giggles. The proud, fearsome Chimera Ant warrior was reduced to helpless laughter, her body jerking against the restraints as Gon unleashed wave after wave of ticklish torment.

“See? This isn’t so bad,” Gon teased, his grin widening as Pitou’s protests melted into hysterical shrieks. “Maybe this’ll teach you to stop underestimating humans.”

Pitou, red-faced and out of breath, could only laugh in response, her pride slipping further.