diff --git a/src/components/Emoji/index.tsx b/src/components/Emoji/index.tsx
index 6da1aac0..b892422a 100644
--- a/src/components/Emoji/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Emoji/index.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT, DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_DISPLAY_EMOJI } from '@/lib/like-reaction-emojis'
 import { TEmoji } from '@/types'
-import { Heart, ThumbsDown } from 'lucide-react'
+import { ThumbsDown } from 'lucide-react'
 import { HTMLAttributes, useState } from 'react'
 
 /** ~4/3 of legacy `size-5` for custom images when no `classNames.img` override. */
@@ -24,8 +25,12 @@ export default function Emoji({
   const [hasError, setHasError] = useState(false)
 
   if (typeof emoji === 'string') {
-    if (emoji === '+') {
-      return <Heart className={cn(EMOJI_IMG_DEFAULT_CLASS, 'text-red-400 fill-red-400', classNames?.img)} />
+    if (emoji === DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT) {
+      return (
+        <span className={cn('whitespace-nowrap', classNames?.text, classNames?.img)}>
+          {DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_DISPLAY_EMOJI}
+        </span>
+      )
     }
     if (emoji === '-') {
       return (
@@ -36,7 +41,7 @@ export default function Emoji({
         />
       )
     }
-    return <span className={cn('whitespace-nowrap', classNames?.text)}>{emoji}</span>
+    return <span className={cn('whitespace-nowrap', classNames?.text, classNames?.img)}>{emoji}</span>
   }
 
   if (hasError) {
diff --git a/src/components/EmojiPicker/index.tsx b/src/components/EmojiPicker/index.tsx
index ff85794e..ed3fb254 100644
--- a/src/components/EmojiPicker/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/EmojiPicker/index.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { DEFAULT_SUGGESTED_EMOJIS } from '@/lib/like-reaction-emojis'
+import { DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT, DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_DISPLAY_EMOJI, DEFAULT_SUGGESTED_EMOJIS } from '@/lib/like-reaction-emojis'
 import { recordEmojiUsed } from '@/lib/recently-used-emojis'
 import { useNostr } from '@/providers/NostrProvider'
 import { useTheme } from '@/providers/ThemeProvider'
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export default function EmojiPicker({
       const handleClick = (e: Event) => {
         const detail = (e as CustomEvent).detail as {
           unicode?: string
-          emoji: {
+          emoji?: {
             custom?: boolean
             unicode?: string
             name?: string
@@ -73,11 +73,22 @@ export default function EmojiPicker({
           }
         }
         let result: string | TEmoji | undefined
-        if (detail.unicode) {
-          result = detail.unicode
+        /**
+         * emoji-picker-element only puts `unicode` on the event detail when `skinTonedUnicode` is truthy
+         * (see getDetailForClickEvent in picker.js). Native picks often expose the sequence on `detail.emoji.unicode`
+         * instead, so we must fall back — otherwise `insertEmoji` receives undefined and “most emojis don’t work”.
+         */
+        const top = typeof detail.unicode === 'string' && detail.unicode.length > 0 ? detail.unicode : undefined
+        const nested =
+          typeof detail.emoji?.unicode === 'string' && detail.emoji.unicode.length > 0
+            ? detail.emoji.unicode
+            : undefined
+        const nativeUnicode = top ?? nested
+        if (nativeUnicode) {
+          result = nativeUnicode
         } else {
           const em = detail.emoji
-          // emoji-picker-element: native emojis have `unicode`; custom entries have `url` (+ name / shortcodes).
+          // Custom entries: `url` (+ shortcodes / name); avoid treating native `unicode` as custom.
           if (em?.url && !em.unicode) {
             const shortcode = em.shortcodes?.[0] ?? em.name
             if (shortcode) {
@@ -136,7 +147,7 @@ export default function EmojiPicker({
               onEmojiClick(emoji, e.nativeEvent)
             }}
           >
-            {emoji}
+            {emoji === DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT ? DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_DISPLAY_EMOJI : emoji}
           </button>
         ))}
         <button
diff --git a/src/components/Note/ReactionEmojiDisplay.tsx b/src/components/Note/ReactionEmojiDisplay.tsx
index fdf899d5..f5d0f549 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/ReactionEmojiDisplay.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/ReactionEmojiDisplay.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export default function ReactionEmojiDisplay({
   className?: string
   /** Truncate long reaction text beyond this length */
   maxRawLength?: number
-  /** Compact row (notification list); `thread` matches reply-list density */
+  /** `compact`: content previews; `thread`: reply-list reaction rows (large glyph). */
   variant?: 'default' | 'compact' | 'thread'
 }) {
   const sync = useMemo(
@@ -58,28 +58,32 @@ export default function ReactionEmojiDisplay({
     return null
   }
 
+  /** Unicode / shortcode strings must not get `img` max-height classes — {@link Emoji} merges both onto one span and clips glyphs. */
+  const emojiClassNames =
+    variant === 'thread'
+      ? typeof value === 'object'
+        ? {
+            img: 'size-[calc(1.85rem*4/3)] max-h-[2.25rem] w-auto rounded-md opacity-95 inline-block align-middle'
+          }
+        : { text: 'text-2xl sm:text-3xl leading-normal tracking-tight' }
+      : {
+          img:
+            variant === 'compact'
+              ? 'size-[calc(1rem*4/3)] max-h-[1em] w-auto rounded-sm'
+              : 'size-[calc(1.75rem*4/3)] max-h-[1.5em] w-auto rounded-sm',
+          text: variant === 'compact' ? 'text-base leading-none' : 'text-2xl leading-none'
+        }
+
   return (
     <span
-      className={cn('inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center leading-none select-none', className)}
+      className={cn(
+        'inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center select-none',
+        variant === 'thread' ? 'overflow-visible leading-normal py-0.5' : 'leading-none',
+        className
+      )}
       aria-hidden
     >
-      <Emoji
-        emoji={value}
-        classNames={{
-          img:
-            variant === 'thread'
-              ? 'size-[calc(0.875rem*4/3)] max-h-[1em] w-auto rounded-sm opacity-90'
-              : variant === 'compact'
-                ? 'size-[calc(1rem*4/3)] max-h-[1em] w-auto rounded-sm'
-                : 'size-[calc(1.75rem*4/3)] max-h-[1.5em] w-auto rounded-sm',
-          text:
-            variant === 'thread'
-              ? 'text-sm leading-none'
-              : variant === 'compact'
-                ? 'text-base leading-none'
-                : 'text-2xl leading-none'
-        }}
-      />
+      <Emoji emoji={value} classNames={emojiClassNames} />
     </span>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/components/NoteCard/MainNoteCard.tsx b/src/components/NoteCard/MainNoteCard.tsx
index ac67f896..2e7b4d5a 100644
--- a/src/components/NoteCard/MainNoteCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NoteCard/MainNoteCard.tsx
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ export default function MainNoteCard({
             className={embedded ? 'mt-2 px-2 sm:px-3' : `mt-3 ${notePadX}`}
             event={event}
             fetchIfNotExisting={fetchNoteStatsIfMissing}
-            displayTopZapsAndLikes={isZapFeedCard}
           />
         ) : null}
         {!embedded && bottomNoteLabel ? (
diff --git a/src/components/NoteStats/LikeButton.tsx b/src/components/NoteStats/LikeButton.tsx
index 8ed5b330..75223d77 100644
--- a/src/components/NoteStats/LikeButton.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NoteStats/LikeButton.tsx
@@ -49,13 +49,16 @@ type LikeButtonProps = {
   hideCount?: boolean
   noteStats?: Partial<TNoteStats>
   isReplyToDiscussion?: boolean
+  /** When true, never show the user's last reaction emoji in the trigger (icon + count only). */
+  useIconOnlyLikeTrigger?: boolean
 }
 
 export function LikeButtonWithStats({
   event,
   hideCount = false,
   noteStats,
-  isReplyToDiscussion: isReplyToDiscussionProp
+  isReplyToDiscussion: isReplyToDiscussionProp,
+  useIconOnlyLikeTrigger = false
 }: LikeButtonProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation()
   const { isSmallScreen } = useScreenSize()
@@ -247,7 +250,7 @@ export function LikeButtonWithStats({
     >
       {liking ? (
         <Skeleton className="size-4 shrink-0 rounded-full" aria-hidden />
-      ) : myLastEmoji ? (
+      ) : myLastEmoji && !useIconOnlyLikeTrigger ? (
         <>
           <Emoji emoji={inQuietMode ? '+' : myLastEmoji} classNames={{ img: EMOJI_IMG_INLINE_CLASS }} />
           {showLikeCount && (
diff --git a/src/components/NoteStats/Likes.tsx b/src/components/NoteStats/Likes.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 223182ca..00000000
--- a/src/components/NoteStats/Likes.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,225 +0,0 @@
-import storage from '@/services/local-storage.service'
-import { HoverCard, HoverCardContent, HoverCardTrigger } from '@/components/ui/hover-card'
-import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
-import { ScrollArea, ScrollBar } from '@/components/ui/scroll-area'
-import { useNoteStatsById } from '@/hooks/useNoteStatsById'
-import { shouldHideInteractions } from '@/lib/event-filtering'
-import { createReactionDraftEvent } from '@/lib/draft-event'
-import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useNostr } from '@/providers/NostrProvider'
-import { useUserTrust } from '@/contexts/user-trust-context'
-import noteStatsService from '@/services/note-stats.service'
-import type { TNoteStats } from '@/services/note-stats.service'
-import { TEmoji } from '@/types'
-import { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
-import { useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
-import Emoji, { EMOJI_IMG_INLINE_CLASS } from '../Emoji'
-import Username from '../Username'
-import logger from '@/lib/logger'
-
-type LikesProps = {
-  event: Event
-  noteStats?: Partial<TNoteStats>
-}
-
-export function LikesWithStats({ event, noteStats }: LikesProps) {
-  const inQuietMode = shouldHideInteractions(event)
-  const { pubkey, checkLogin, publish } = useNostr()
-  const { hideUntrustedInteractions, isUserTrusted } = useUserTrust()
-  const [liking, setLiking] = useState<string | null>(null)
-  const longPressTimerRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null)
-  const [isLongPressing, setIsLongPressing] = useState<string | null>(null)
-  const [isCompleted, setIsCompleted] = useState<string | null>(null)
-
-  const likes = useMemo(() => {
-    let _likes = noteStats?.likes
-    if (!_likes) return []
-
-    if (hideUntrustedInteractions) {
-      _likes = _likes.filter((item) => isUserTrusted(item.pubkey))
-    }
-
-    const stats = new Map<string, { key: string; emoji: TEmoji | string; pubkeys: Set<string> }>()
-    _likes.forEach((item) => {
-      // In quiet mode, normalize all emojis to "+" to prevent trolling with funny emojis
-      if (inQuietMode) {
-        const key = '+'
-        if (!stats.has(key)) {
-          stats.set(key, { key, pubkeys: new Set(), emoji: '+' })
-        }
-        stats.get(key)?.pubkeys.add(item.pubkey)
-      } else {
-        const key = typeof item.emoji === 'string' ? item.emoji : item.emoji.url
-        if (!stats.has(key)) {
-          stats.set(key, { key, pubkeys: new Set(), emoji: item.emoji })
-        }
-        stats.get(key)?.pubkeys.add(item.pubkey)
-      }
-    })
-    return Array.from(stats.values())
-      .filter((g) => g.pubkeys.size > 0)
-      .sort((a, b) => b.pubkeys.size - a.pubkeys.size)
-  }, [noteStats, event, inQuietMode, hideUntrustedInteractions, isUserTrusted])
-
-  if (!likes.length) return null
-
-  const like = async (key: string, emoji: TEmoji | string) => {
-    checkLogin(async () => {
-      if (liking || !pubkey) return
-
-      setLiking(key)
-      const timer = setTimeout(() => setLiking((prev) => (prev === key ? null : prev)), 5000)
-
-      try {
-        const reaction = createReactionDraftEvent(event, emoji)
-        const evt = await publish(reaction, { addClientTag: storage.getAddClientTag() })
-        noteStatsService.updateNoteStatsByEvents([evt], undefined, {
-          interactionTargetNoteId: event.id
-        })
-      } catch (error) {
-        logger.error('Like failed', { error, eventId: event.id })
-      } finally {
-        setLiking(null)
-        clearTimeout(timer)
-      }
-    })
-  }
-
-  const handleMouseDown = (key: string) => {
-    if (pubkey && likes.find((l) => l.key === key)?.pubkeys.has(pubkey)) {
-      return
-    }
-
-    setIsLongPressing(key)
-    longPressTimerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
-      setIsCompleted(key)
-      setIsLongPressing(null)
-    }, 800)
-  }
-
-  const handleMouseUp = () => {
-    if (longPressTimerRef.current) {
-      clearTimeout(longPressTimerRef.current)
-      longPressTimerRef.current = null
-    }
-
-    if (isCompleted) {
-      const completedKey = isCompleted
-      const row = likes.find((l) => l.key === completedKey)
-      if (row) {
-        like(completedKey, row.emoji)
-      }
-    }
-
-    setIsLongPressing(null)
-    setIsCompleted(null)
-  }
-
-  const handleMouseLeave = () => {
-    if (longPressTimerRef.current) {
-      clearTimeout(longPressTimerRef.current)
-      longPressTimerRef.current = null
-    }
-    setIsLongPressing(null)
-    setIsCompleted(null)
-  }
-
-  const handleTouchMove = (e: React.TouchEvent) => {
-    const touch = e.touches[0]
-    const rect = (e.currentTarget as HTMLElement).getBoundingClientRect()
-    const isInside =
-      touch.clientX >= rect.left &&
-      touch.clientX <= rect.right &&
-      touch.clientY >= rect.top &&
-      touch.clientY <= rect.bottom
-
-    if (!isInside) {
-      handleMouseLeave()
-    }
-  }
-
-  return (
-    <ScrollArea className="pb-2 mb-1">
-      <div className="flex gap-1">
-        {likes.map(({ key, emoji, pubkeys }) => {
-          const contributorIds = Array.from(pubkeys).sort()
-          return (
-            <HoverCard key={key} openDelay={250} closeDelay={50}>
-              <HoverCardTrigger asChild>
-                <div
-                  className={cn(
-                    'flex h-7 w-fit gap-2 px-2 rounded-full items-center border shrink-0 select-none relative overflow-hidden transition-all duration-200',
-                    pubkey && pubkeys.has(pubkey)
-                      ? 'border-primary bg-primary/20 text-foreground cursor-not-allowed'
-                      : 'bg-muted/80 text-muted-foreground cursor-pointer hover:bg-primary/40 hover:border-primary hover:text-foreground',
-                    (isLongPressing === key || isCompleted === key) && 'border-primary bg-primary/20'
-                  )}
-                  onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
-                  onMouseDown={() => handleMouseDown(key)}
-                  onMouseUp={handleMouseUp}
-                  onMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
-                  onTouchStart={() => handleMouseDown(key)}
-                  onTouchMove={handleTouchMove}
-                  onTouchEnd={handleMouseUp}
-                  onTouchCancel={handleMouseLeave}
-                >
-                  {(isLongPressing === key || isCompleted === key) && (
-                    <div className="absolute inset-0 rounded-full overflow-hidden">
-                      <div
-                        className="h-full bg-gradient-to-r from-primary/40 via-primary/60 to-primary/80"
-                        style={{
-                          width: isCompleted === key ? '100%' : '0%',
-                          animation:
-                            isLongPressing === key ? 'progressFill 1000ms ease-out forwards' : 'none'
-                        }}
-                      />
-                    </div>
-                  )}
-                  <div className="relative z-10 flex items-center gap-2">
-                    {liking === key ? (
-                      <Skeleton className="size-4 shrink-0 rounded-full" aria-hidden />
-                    ) : (
-                      <div
-                        style={{
-                          animation: isCompleted === key ? 'shake 0.5s ease-in-out infinite' : undefined
-                        }}
-                      >
-                        <Emoji emoji={emoji} classNames={{ img: EMOJI_IMG_INLINE_CLASS }} />
-                      </div>
-                    )}
-                    <div className="text-sm">{pubkeys.size}</div>
-                  </div>
-                </div>
-              </HoverCardTrigger>
-              <HoverCardContent
-                className="w-72 max-h-64 p-0 overflow-hidden"
-                side="top"
-                align="center"
-                onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
-              >
-                <ScrollArea className="max-h-60">
-                  <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5 p-3 pr-4">
-                    {contributorIds.map((userId) => (
-                      <Username
-                        key={userId}
-                        userId={userId}
-                        className="text-sm truncate text-foreground"
-                        skeletonClassName="h-4"
-                      />
-                    ))}
-                  </div>
-                </ScrollArea>
-              </HoverCardContent>
-            </HoverCard>
-          )
-        })}
-      </div>
-      <ScrollBar orientation="horizontal" />
-    </ScrollArea>
-  )
-}
-
-export default function Likes({ event }: LikesProps) {
-  const noteStats = useNoteStatsById(event.id)
-  return <LikesWithStats event={event} noteStats={noteStats} />
-}
diff --git a/src/components/NoteStats/index.tsx b/src/components/NoteStats/index.tsx
index 464b09a4..b2aec740 100644
--- a/src/components/NoteStats/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NoteStats/index.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import BookmarkButton from '../BookmarkButton'
 import { LikeButtonWithStats } from './LikeButton'
-import { LikesWithStats } from './Likes'
 import { ReplyButtonWithStats } from './ReplyButton'
 import { RepostButtonWithStats } from './RepostButton'
 import SeenOnButton from './SeenOnButton'
@@ -23,8 +22,8 @@ export default function NoteStats({
   className,
   classNames,
   fetchIfNotExisting = false,
-  displayTopZapsAndLikes = false,
-  foregroundStats = false
+  foregroundStats = false,
+  useIconOnlyLikeTrigger = false
 }: {
   event: Event
   className?: string
@@ -32,9 +31,12 @@ export default function NoteStats({
     buttonBar?: string
   }
   fetchIfNotExisting?: boolean
-  displayTopZapsAndLikes?: boolean
   /** Jump ahead of spell-feed backlog so counts resolve on the open note / article. */
   foregroundStats?: boolean
+  /**
+   * Thread rows for kind-7 reactions: like control shows icon + total only (body already shows the reaction glyph).
+   */
+  useIconOnlyLikeTrigger?: boolean
 }) {
   const { isSmallScreen } = useScreenSize()
   const { pubkey } = useNostr()
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ export default function NoteStats({
   // Hide interaction counts if event is in quiet mode
   const hideInteractions = shouldHideInteractions(event)
 
-  /** Synthetic RSS article root: no boost/quote/zap; still show reaction breakdown (NIP-25 + kind-17 web). */
+  /** Synthetic RSS article root: no boost/quote/zap bar entries that normal notes have. */
   const isRssArticleRoot = event.kind === ExtendedKind.RSS_THREAD_ROOT
   /** Match {@link RssUrlThreadStatsBar}: inbox/favorites/fast-read merge — plain hints miss many #i indexers. */
   const statsRelays = isRssArticleRoot ? rssUrlThreadRelays : hintRelays
@@ -60,9 +62,6 @@ export default function NoteStats({
   statsRelaysRef.current = statsRelays
   const isZapPoll = event.kind === ExtendedKind.ZAP_POLL
 
-  /** Emoji reaction pills (aggregated likes). Shown for RSS/Web URL threads so the side panel matches feed rows. */
-  const showLikesPills = !isDiscussion && !isReplyToDiscussion
-
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!fetchIfNotExisting) return
     setLoading(true)
@@ -87,11 +86,6 @@ export default function NoteStats({
   if (isSmallScreen) {
     return (
       <div className={cn('select-none', className)} data-note-stats onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
-        {displayTopZapsAndLikes && (
-          <>
-            {showLikesPills && <LikesWithStats event={event} noteStats={noteStats} />}
-          </>
-        )}
         <div
           className={cn(
             'flex justify-between items-center h-5 [&_svg]:size-5',
@@ -108,6 +102,7 @@ export default function NoteStats({
             hideCount={hideInteractions}
             noteStats={noteStats}
             isReplyToDiscussion={isReplyToDiscussion}
+            useIconOnlyLikeTrigger={useIconOnlyLikeTrigger}
           />
           {!isRssArticleRoot && !isZapPoll && (
             <ZapButtonWithStats event={event} hideCount={hideInteractions} noteStats={noteStats} />
@@ -121,11 +116,6 @@ export default function NoteStats({
 
   return (
     <div className={cn('select-none', className)} data-note-stats onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
-      {displayTopZapsAndLikes && (
-        <>
-          {showLikesPills && <LikesWithStats event={event} noteStats={noteStats} />}
-        </>
-      )}
       <div className="flex justify-between h-5 [&_svg]:size-4">
         <div
           className={cn('flex items-center', loading ? 'animate-pulse' : '')}
@@ -139,6 +129,7 @@ export default function NoteStats({
             hideCount={hideInteractions}
             noteStats={noteStats}
             isReplyToDiscussion={isReplyToDiscussion}
+            useIconOnlyLikeTrigger={useIconOnlyLikeTrigger}
           />
           {!isRssArticleRoot && !isZapPoll && (
             <ZapButtonWithStats event={event} hideCount={hideInteractions} noteStats={noteStats} />
diff --git a/src/components/ReplyNote/index.tsx b/src/components/ReplyNote/index.tsx
index b9eb7dd4..d9ed9b5d 100644
--- a/src/components/ReplyNote/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ReplyNote/index.tsx
@@ -115,7 +115,12 @@ export default function ReplyNote({
             maxFileSizeKb={2048}
             deferRemoteAvatar={false}
           />
-          <div className="w-full overflow-hidden">
+          <div
+            className={cn(
+              'w-full min-w-0',
+              isNip25ReactionKind(event.kind) ? 'overflow-visible' : 'overflow-x-hidden'
+            )}
+          >
             <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
               <div className="flex-1 w-0">
                 <div className="flex gap-1 items-center">
@@ -166,9 +171,19 @@ export default function ReplyNote({
             ) : null}
             {show ? (
               isNip25ReactionKind(event.kind) ? (
-                <div className="mt-1.5 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-1.5 gap-y-0.5 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                <div
+                  className={cn(
+                    'mt-2 flex min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-wrap items-end gap-x-2 gap-y-1 overflow-visible pb-1.5',
+                    reactionDisplay.status === 'default'
+                      ? 'text-foreground'
+                      : 'text-muted-foreground text-sm'
+                  )}
+                >
                   {reactionDisplay.status === 'pending' ? (
-                    <Skeleton className="size-3.5 shrink-0 rounded-sm" aria-hidden />
+                    <Skeleton
+                      className="h-10 w-10 shrink-0 rounded-lg sm:h-11 sm:w-11"
+                      aria-hidden
+                    />
                   ) : reactionDisplay.status === 'vote_up' ? (
                     <span className="text-sm leading-none opacity-90" aria-hidden>
                       {DISCUSSION_UPVOTE_DISPLAY}
@@ -180,7 +195,9 @@ export default function ReplyNote({
                   ) : (
                     <ReactionEmojiDisplay event={event} variant="thread" maxRawLength={64} />
                   )}
-                  <span className="text-foreground/85">{t(notificationReactionSummaryKey(reactionDisplay))}</span>
+                  {reactionDisplay.status !== 'default' && (
+                    <span className="text-sm text-foreground/85">{t(notificationReactionSummaryKey(reactionDisplay))}</span>
+                  )}
                 </div>
               ) : event.kind === kinds.Zap ? (
                 <Zap className="mt-1.5" event={event} omitSenderHeading variant="compact" />
@@ -208,15 +225,17 @@ export default function ReplyNote({
           </div>
         </div>
       </Collapsible>
-      {show && !isNip25ReactionKind(event.kind) && (
+      {show && (
         <>
-          <NoteBoostBadges event={event} className="ml-14 pl-1 mr-4 mt-2" />
+          {!isNip25ReactionKind(event.kind) && (
+            <NoteBoostBadges event={event} className="ml-14 pl-1 mr-4 mt-2" />
+          )}
           <NoteStats
             className="ml-14 pl-1 mr-4 mt-2"
             event={event}
-            displayTopZapsAndLikes={event.kind !== kinds.Zap}
             fetchIfNotExisting
             foregroundStats={foregroundStats}
+            useIconOnlyLikeTrigger={isNip25ReactionKind(event.kind)}
           />
         </>
       )}
diff --git a/src/components/ReplyNoteList/index.tsx b/src/components/ReplyNoteList/index.tsx
index badf4e2b..8723b3ff 100644
--- a/src/components/ReplyNoteList/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ReplyNoteList/index.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import {
   getReplaceableCoordinateFromEvent,
   getRootATag,
   getRootETag,
-  isNip25ReactionKind,
   isNip56ReportEvent,
   isReplaceableEvent,
   kind1QuotesThreadRoot,
@@ -224,8 +223,8 @@ function moveReportsToEndPreserveOrder(events: NEvent[]): NEvent[] {
 /** Shown after thread replies for E/A roots (quote stream + kind 1 #q-only); matches {@link THREAD_BACKLINK_STREAM_KINDS}. */
 const EA_THREAD_TAIL_REFERENCE_KINDS = new Set<number>(THREAD_BACKLINK_STREAM_KINDS)
 
-/** Web (NIP-22) thread: tail = reference-style rows + URL-scoped reactions (same block order as E/A). */
-const WEB_THREAD_EXTRA_TAIL_KINDS = new Set<number>([kinds.Reaction, ExtendedKind.EXTERNAL_REACTION])
+/** Web (NIP-22) thread: tail = reference-style rows + URL-only external reactions (kind-7 stays in the chronological middle with other replies). */
+const WEB_THREAD_EXTRA_TAIL_KINDS = new Set<number>([ExtendedKind.EXTERNAL_REACTION])
 
 function isWebThreadTailKind(kind: number): boolean {
   return EA_THREAD_TAIL_REFERENCE_KINDS.has(kind) || WEB_THREAD_EXTRA_TAIL_KINDS.has(kind)
@@ -262,8 +261,8 @@ function noteReactionEtagEqualsHex(ev: NEvent, hexLower: string): boolean {
 }
 
 /**
- * Thread REQ historically omitted kind 7; {@link replyMatchesThreadForList} also drops reactions from the reply list.
- * Reactions still need to merge into {@link noteStatsService} for the root so the note header matches notifications.
+ * Thread REQ may still omit some kind-7 rows; merge reactions that tag the root hex so OP stats stay warm.
+ * Listed reactions under “Antworten” come from {@link ReplyNoteList} BFS + {@link replyMatchesThreadForList}.
  */
 function mergeFetchedKind7ReactionsIntoRootNoteStats(all: NEvent[], rootInfo: TRootInfo) {
   if (rootInfo.type === 'E') {
@@ -449,7 +448,6 @@ function ReplyNoteList({
       
       events.forEach((evt) => {
         if (replyIdSet.has(evt.id)) return
-        if (isNip25ReactionKind(evt.kind)) return
         if (isPollVoteKind(evt)) return
         if (isZapPollThreadZapReceipt(evt, event)) return
         if (
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
index 54f3a7dc..8a01a071 100644
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ b/src/constants.ts
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ export const FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS = [
   'wss://thecitadel.nostr1.com',
   'wss://aggr.nostr.land',
   'wss://primus.nostr1.com',
+  'wss://wheat.happytavern.co'
 ]
 
 // Optimized relay list for write operations (no aggregator since it's read-only)
@@ -446,7 +447,8 @@ export const SEARCHABLE_RELAY_URLS = [
   'wss://nostr.einundzwanzig.space',
   'wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net',
   'wss://pyramid.fiatjaf.com/',
-  'wss://nostrelites.org'
+  'wss://nostrelites.org',
+  'wss://wheat.happytavern.co'
 ]
 
 export const PROFILE_RELAY_URLS = [
diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 1e990320..dcff5b69 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -62,6 +62,24 @@
     pointer-events: none;
   }
 
+  /*
+   * TipTap / ProseMirror composer: without a color-emoji font in the stack (common on Linux + Firefox),
+   * Unicode emoji pick a text-font glyph (thin/outline). Preview and published notes often look “correct”
+   * because markdown/prose or system fonts resolve emoji differently. Append emoji-capable families last.
+   */
+  .tiptap .ProseMirror {
+    font-family:
+      ui-sans-serif,
+      system-ui,
+      sans-serif,
+      'Apple Color Emoji',
+      'Segoe UI Emoji',
+      'Segoe UI Symbol',
+      'Noto Color Emoji',
+      'Noto Emoji',
+      sans-serif;
+  }
+
   .scrollbar-hide {
     -ms-overflow-style: none; /* Internet Explorer 10+ */
     scrollbar-width: none; /* Firefox */
diff --git a/src/lib/event.ts b/src/lib/event.ts
index 099a0c27..d2a078ba 100644
--- a/src/lib/event.ts
+++ b/src/lib/event.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   generateBech32IdFromETag,
   getFirstHexEventIdFromETags,
   getImetaInfoFromImetaTag,
+  getNip25ReactionTargetHexFromTags,
   tagNameEquals
 } from './tag'
 
@@ -175,8 +176,22 @@ export function isMentioningMutedUsers(event: Event, mutePubkeySet: Set<string>)
 export function getParentETag(event?: Event) {
   if (!event) return undefined
 
-  // NIP-25 reactions, NIP-18 reposts (6 / 16), poll responses: first hex `e` / `E` references the target note.
-  if (event.kind === kinds.Reaction || isNip18RepostKind(event.kind) || event.kind === ExtendedKind.POLL_RESPONSE) {
+  // NIP-25 reactions: reacted-to id is often the `reply`-marked `e`, not the first `e` (root is commonly first).
+  if (event.kind === kinds.Reaction) {
+    const targetHex = getNip25ReactionTargetHexFromTags(event.tags)
+    if (!targetHex) return undefined
+    return (
+      event.tags.find(
+        (t) => t[0] === 'e' && typeof t[1] === 'string' && t[1].toLowerCase() === targetHex
+      ) ??
+      event.tags.find(
+        (t) => t[0] === 'E' && typeof t[1] === 'string' && t[1].toLowerCase() === targetHex
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
+  // NIP-18 reposts (6 / 16), poll responses: first hex `e` / `E` references the target note.
+  if (isNip18RepostKind(event.kind) || event.kind === ExtendedKind.POLL_RESPONSE) {
     const firstId = getFirstHexEventIdFromETags(event.tags)
     if (!firstId) return undefined
     return (
diff --git a/src/lib/like-reaction-emojis.ts b/src/lib/like-reaction-emojis.ts
index 8b84b69b..553ace3c 100644
--- a/src/lib/like-reaction-emojis.ts
+++ b/src/lib/like-reaction-emojis.ts
@@ -2,4 +2,22 @@
  * Single source for the quick-like emoji row used by the EmojiPicker / LikeButton.
  * EmojiPicker re-exports this list as EMOJI_PICKER_REACTIONS for LikeButton.
  */
-export const DEFAULT_SUGGESTED_EMOJIS = ['❤️', '👍', '🔥', '😂', '😢', '🫂', '🚀'] as const
+
+/** NIP-25 default positive reaction is the character `+`, not a Unicode heart. */
+export const DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT = '+' as const
+
+/**
+ * Visual glyph for {@link DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT} in UI (heart suit, emoji presentation).
+ * Published reaction content stays `+`.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_DISPLAY_EMOJI = '\u2665\uFE0F'
+
+export const DEFAULT_SUGGESTED_EMOJIS = [
+  DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT,
+  '👍',
+  '🔥',
+  '😂',
+  '😢',
+  '🫂',
+  '🚀'
+] as const
diff --git a/src/lib/reaction-display.ts b/src/lib/reaction-display.ts
index dbea88d9..1e85dab1 100644
--- a/src/lib/reaction-display.ts
+++ b/src/lib/reaction-display.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT } from '@/lib/like-reaction-emojis'
 import { replaceStandardEmojiShortcodesInContent } from '@/lib/emoji-content'
 import { isNip25ReactionKind } from '@/lib/event'
 import { getEmojiInfosFromEmojiTags } from '@/lib/tag'
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ export function resolveReactionEmojiSync(event: Event, maxRawLength: number): TR
 
   const raw = event.content?.trim() ?? ''
   if (!raw) {
-    return { mode: 'display', value: '❤️' }
+    return { mode: 'display', value: DEFAULT_LIKE_REACTION_CONTENT }
   }
   if (raw.length > maxRawLength) {
     return { mode: 'display', value: `${raw.slice(0, maxRawLength)}…` }
diff --git a/src/lib/tag.ts b/src/lib/tag.ts
index 352e3612..233be5ce 100644
--- a/src/lib/tag.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tag.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,25 @@ export function getFirstHexEventIdFromETags(tags: string[][]): string | undefine
   return undefined
 }
 
+/**
+ * NIP-25 kind-7 target note id: prefer `e`/`E` with marker `reply` (reacted-to note in a thread).
+ * If several `e` tags have no markers, use the last hex id (common order: root, then reply).
+ */
+export function getNip25ReactionTargetHexFromTags(tags: string[][]): string | undefined {
+  const eRows: { id: string; marker?: string }[] = []
+  for (const t of tags) {
+    if (t[0] !== 'e' && t[0] !== 'E') continue
+    const id = t[1]
+    if (!id || !NOTE_HEX_ID_RE.test(id)) continue
+    const marker = typeof t[3] === 'string' ? t[3].toLowerCase() : undefined
+    if (marker === 'reply') return id.toLowerCase()
+    eRows.push({ id: id.toLowerCase(), marker })
+  }
+  if (eRows.length === 1) return eRows[0].id
+  if (eRows.length > 1) return eRows[eRows.length - 1].id
+  return undefined
+}
+
 export function generateBech32IdFromETag(tag: string[]) {
   try {
     const [, id, relay, markerOrPubkey, pubkey] = tag
diff --git a/src/pages/secondary/NotePage/index.tsx b/src/pages/secondary/NotePage/index.tsx
index 21d414b7..8f6084d9 100644
--- a/src/pages/secondary/NotePage/index.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/secondary/NotePage/index.tsx
@@ -546,7 +546,6 @@ const NotePage = forwardRef(({ id, index, hideTitlebar = false, initialEvent }:
           className="mt-3"
           event={finalEvent}
           fetchIfNotExisting
-          displayTopZapsAndLikes
           foregroundStats
         />
       </div>
diff --git a/src/pages/secondary/RssArticlePage/index.tsx b/src/pages/secondary/RssArticlePage/index.tsx
index 902c2e0a..f572b638 100644
--- a/src/pages/secondary/RssArticlePage/index.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/secondary/RssArticlePage/index.tsx
@@ -303,7 +303,6 @@ const RssArticlePage = forwardRef(
                   className="mt-2"
                   event={syntheticRoot}
                   fetchIfNotExisting
-                  displayTopZapsAndLikes
                   foregroundStats
                 />
               </div>
@@ -399,7 +398,6 @@ const RssArticlePage = forwardRef(
                 className="mt-3"
                 event={syntheticRoot}
                 fetchIfNotExisting
-                displayTopZapsAndLikes
                 foregroundStats
               />
             </div>
diff --git a/src/services/note-stats.service.ts b/src/services/note-stats.service.ts
index b44d5fa6..f7fcd371 100644
--- a/src/services/note-stats.service.ts
+++ b/src/services/note-stats.service.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   getParentEventHexId,
   getReplaceableCoordinateFromEvent,
   isNip18RepostKind,
+  isNip25ReactionKind,
   isReplaceableEvent
 } from '@/lib/event'
 import { eventReferencesThreadTarget, threadRootRefFromStatsRootEvent } from '@/lib/op-reference-tags'
@@ -256,7 +257,15 @@ class NoteStatsService {
       }
     }
 
-    const hexIds = [...new Set(hexReplies.map((r) => this.statsKey(r.id)))]
+    const hexIdsSet = new Set(hexReplies.map((r) => this.statsKey(r.id)))
+    for (const r of hexReplies) {
+      if (!isNip25ReactionKind(r.kind)) continue
+      const parentHex = getParentEventHexId(r)
+      if (parentHex && this.hexNoteStatsIdRe.test(parentHex)) {
+        hexIdsSet.add(this.statsKey(parentHex))
+      }
+    }
+    const hexIds = [...hexIdsSet]
 
     const markHexTargetsLoaded = () => {
       for (const id of hexIds) {