fix(story-mode): the badge counts the card it sits on, opinions mid-step, a deviation is a note (review round 10)

From the fact-checker:
- "+37" sat on mathx.py's card, which has 11 of those lines; with
  several files the badge now counts the card in front (the Director's
  cut keeps every file's count).
- A second opinion asked in the middle of a step's calls read "after
  asking"; it now reads "along the way, asks a stronger AI model…".
- "Two places where I didn't follow your wording exactly" under
  "Mission complete!": not following your words is a note ("Done, with a
  note"), and the sentence counts as a word on what you asked.
- A test run that patched a file written a panel before said "Claude
  writes" it: whole files are written, patched ones changed ("Claude
  writes pyproject.toml and changes test_csvstat.py; …").

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/story-mode.ts

@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ const KEY_KINDS: Array<[StoryKeyKind, RegExp]> = [
   ['failed', /(?<!\b(a|the|any|on) )(?<!\d )\b(failed|fails)\b/i],
   [
     'asked',
-    /\b(as you (asked|expected|said|wanted|suggested)|you asked|your (--?[\w-]+|request|option|flag|change))\b/i,
+    /\b(as you (asked|expected|said|wanted|suggested)|you asked|your (--?[\w-]+|request|option|flag|change)|(didn't|did not|couldn't|could not) (follow|use|do) (your|exactly what you))\b/i,
   ],
   // A warning or report that turned out wrong: what resolves a worry an earlier panel raised.
   [
@@ -2121,12 +2121,16 @@ const REPORT_TALK: Partial<Record<StoryPanelKind, RegExp>> = {
 const ANNOUNCES = /\b(I'll|I will|let me|let's|I'm going to|next,? I|now I)\b/i;
 
 /** What Claude's last words leave open: a catch (a problem), a note (something pending), a question. */
+/** Claude did something differently from what you asked: worth a note on the final panel. */
+const DEVIATED =
+  /\b(didn't|did not|couldn't|could not) (follow|use|do) (your|exactly what you)|\bnot exactly as you\b/i;
+
 function closingKinds(points: string[] = []): { openNote?: 'catch' | 'note'; asks?: boolean } {
   const kinds = new Set(points.map(keyKindOf));
   return {
     ...(kinds.has('problem')
       ? { openNote: 'catch' as const }
-      : kinds.has('pending')
+      : kinds.has('pending') || points.some((p) => DEVIATED.test(p))
         ? { openNote: 'note' as const }
         : {}),
     ...(points.some((p) => keyKindOf(p) === 'offer' && ASKS_YOU.test(p)) ? { asks: true } : {}),
@@ -2573,7 +2577,8 @@ function decorate(draft: DraftPanel, events: StoryEvent[], turn: StoryTurn, inde
       if (draft.kind === 'fix') {
         const created = unique(edits.filter((e) => e.created).map((e) => e.file)).length;
         const whole =
-          edits.length > 0 && edits.every((d) => d.created || d.hunks.every((h) => !h.oldStart && !h.oldLines));
+          edits.length > 0 &&
+          edits.every((d) => d.created || (d.hunks.length > 0 && d.hunks.every((h) => !h.oldStart && !h.oldLines)));
         story =
           created && created === files.length
             ? files.length <= 2
@@ -2708,7 +2713,16 @@ function decorate(draft: DraftPanel, events: StoryEvent[], turn: StoryTurn, inde
           `The $1 $2$3 in a fresh copy made from ${basename(cloned.replace(/\/+$/, ''))}`
         );
       const written = unique(edits.map((d) => d.file));
-      if (written.length) story = `Claude writes ${fileWords(written)}; ${story[0].toLowerCase()}${story.slice(1)}`;
+      // Whole files are written; a file it patched is changed (a later panel often patches one written earlier).
+      const isWhole = (d: StoryEdit) =>
+        d.created || (d.hunks.length > 0 && d.hunks.every((h) => !h.oldStart && !h.oldLines));
+      const wholeFiles = written.filter((f) => edits.filter((d) => d.file === f).every(isWhole));
+      const patched = written.filter((f) => !wholeFiles.includes(f));
+      const did = [
+        wholeFiles.length ? `writes ${fileWords(wholeFiles)}` : '',
+        patched.length ? `changes ${fileWords(patched)}` : '',
+      ].filter(Boolean);
+      if (did.length) story = `Claude ${did.join(' and ')}; ${story[0].toLowerCase()}${story.slice(1)}`;
       const saved = checks.reduce((n, e) => n + (e.commits ?? 0), 0);
       if (saved) {
         director += ` · ${plural(saved, 'commit')}`;
@@ -2875,11 +2889,17 @@ function decorate(draft: DraftPanel, events: StoryEvent[], turn: StoryTurn, inde
       break;
   }
   if (panel.secondOpinion) {
-    // Asked before the step, or (nothing following) after the last one.
-    const lastWork = Math.max(...draft.events.filter((i) => events[i].tool !== 'Advisor'));
-    const trailing = draft.events.some((i) => events[i].tool === 'Advisor' && i > lastWork);
-    const unanswered = draft.events.every((i) => events[i].tool !== 'Advisor' || events[i].ok === false);
-    director += ` · ${trailing ? 'then' : 'after'} ${plural(panel.secondOpinion, 'second opinion')}${unanswered ? ' (no answer)' : ''}`;
+    // Asked before the step, after it (nothing following), or in the middle of a step's calls.
+    const work = draft.events.filter((i) => events[i].tool !== 'Advisor');
+    const asked = draft.events.filter((i) => events[i].tool === 'Advisor');
+    const when = asked.every((i) => i < Math.min(...work))
+      ? 'after'
+      : asked.every((i) => i > Math.max(...work))
+        ? 'then'
+        : 'during';
+    const unanswered = asked.every((i) => events[i].ok === false);
+    const count = plural(panel.secondOpinion, 'second opinion');
+    director += ` · ${when === 'during' ? `${count} along the way` : `${when} ${count}`}${unanswered ? ' (no answer)' : ''}`;
   }
   panel.caption = { story, director };
   return panel;

src/web/public/story-mode.js

@@ -1060,10 +1060,15 @@ const StoryArt = (() => {
         const hp = [tip[0] + 20 + Math.sin(f / 2.6) * 3, tip[1] - 28 + Math.cos(f / 3.1) * 2.5];
         const a = agent(ctx, ax, 248, { frame: f, mood: 'focus', l: [hp[0] - ax, hp[1] - 248], r: [30, -42] });
         pencil(ctx, a.l, [tip[0] + Math.sin(f / 2.6) * 3, tip[1] + Math.cos(f / 3.1) * 2.5]);
-        if (p.panel.added)
+        // With several files the badge counts the card in front: a total beside one file's card read as
+        // that file's own. The Director's cut has every file's count.
+        const front = files.length > 1 && first ? edits.filter((d) => d.file === first.file) : null;
+        const added = front ? front.reduce((n, d) => n + d.added, 0) : p.panel.added;
+        const removed = front ? front.reduce((n, d) => n + d.removed, 0) : p.panel.removed;
+        if (added)
           sfx(
             ctx,
-            `+${p.panel.added}`,
+            `+${added}`,
             x0 + pw * 0.32,
             y0 + ph + 2,
             26,
@@ -1071,10 +1076,10 @@ const StoryArt = (() => {
             -0.18,
             spring(f - 44, { damping: 9, stiffness: 170 })
           );
-        if (p.panel.removed)
+        if (removed)
           sfx(
             ctx,
-            `−${p.panel.removed}`,
+            `−${removed}`,
             x0 + pw * 0.74,
             y0 + ph + 6,
             24,
@@ -2494,15 +2499,22 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       // Asked before this step, or after it when nothing followed.
       const work = p.events.filter((i) => page.events[i]?.tool !== 'Advisor');
       const asked = p.events.filter((i) => page.events[i]?.tool === 'Advisor');
-      const trailing = asked.some((i) => i > Math.max(...work));
+      // Before the step's calls, after them, or in the middle of them.
+      const before = asked.every((i) => i < Math.min(...work));
+      const trailing = !before && asked.every((i) => i > Math.max(...work));
       // A call that came back with an error brought no opinion: say so, never that one was given.
       const unanswered = asked.length > 0 && asked.every((i) => page.events[i].ok === false);
+      const ask = unanswered ? 'tries to ask' : 'asks';
       rt.capNote.hidden = !p.secondOpinion;
       rt.capNote.textContent = !p.secondOpinion
         ? ''
-        : unanswered
-          ? `${trailing ? 'then tries to ask' : 'after trying to ask'} a stronger AI model for a second opinion (no answer came)`
-          : `${trailing ? 'then asks' : 'after asking'} a stronger AI model for a second opinion`;
+        : `${
+            before
+              ? `after ${unanswered ? 'trying to ask' : 'asking'}`
+              : trailing
+                ? `then ${ask}`
+                : `along the way, ${ask}`
+          } a stronger AI model for a second opinion${unanswered ? ' (no answer came)' : ''}`;
     }
     rt.el.classList.toggle('is-live', !!p.live);
     // Named by its place only: the caption inside is read as the panel's content, once.

test/fixtures/story-corpus/compact-then-plan-mode.expected.json

@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
         "kind": "plan",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude writes a plan: 3 steps.",
-        "director": "EnterPlanMode · Write · plan file · 3 steps · after 1 second opinion",
+        "director": "EnterPlanMode · Write · plan file · 3 steps · 1 second opinion along the way",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "roundsOk": null,

test/fixtures/story-corpus/errors-push-append.expected.json

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
         "kind": "run",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude works in the terminal.",
-        "director": "Bash ×2 · python3 -c \"import calc_stats\" 2>&1 | tail -1; ls pytest.in… · after 1 second opinion",
+        "director": "Bash ×2 · python3 -c \"import calc_stats\" 2>&1 | tail -1; ls pytest.in… · 1 second opinion along the way",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "roundsOk": null,

test/fixtures/story-corpus/long-turn-prompt-added.expected.json

@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
     "helpers": 0,
     "helpersRunning": 0,
     "finishedLater": 0,
-    "openNote": false,
+    "openNote": "note",
     "asks": false,
     "panels": [
       {

test/fixtures/story-corpus/text-plan-dry-run-helper.expected.json

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
       {
         "kind": "check",
         "ok": true,
-        "story": "Claude writes test_csvstat.py and pyproject.toml; the tests pass, then Claude starts a git repository and saves the work.",
+        "story": "Claude writes pyproject.toml and changes test_csvstat.py; the tests pass, then Claude starts a git repository and saves the work.",
         "director": "python3 -m pytest -q 2>&1 → ok ×2 · 17 passed · writes 2 files · 1 commit",
         "balloon": "Code and tests are committed.",
         "tests": {

test/story-corpus.test.ts

@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ describe('Story Mode on real sessions', () => {
 
   it('a commit at the end of a test one-liner is kept, and a background helper reports back in 9 s', () => {
     expect(panel('text-plan-dry-run-helper', 0, 'check')?.story).toBe(
-      'Claude writes test_csvstat.py and pyproject.toml; the tests pass, then Claude starts a git repository and saves the work.'
+      // test_csvstat.py was written a panel before and only patched here.
+      'Claude writes pyproject.toml and changes test_csvstat.py; the tests pass, then Claude starts a git repository and saves the work.'
     );
     expect(panel('text-plan-dry-run-helper', 0, 'plan')?.story).toBe('Claude writes a plan: 4 steps.');
     expect(pagesOf('text-plan-dry-run-helper')[1]).toMatchObject({ origin: 'task', durationMs: 9008 });
@@ -195,6 +196,12 @@ describe('Story Mode on real sessions', () => {
     expect(panel).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
+  it('an ending that says Claude did not follow your wording is a note, not a clean finish (round 10)', () => {
+    const [, exact] = pagesOf('long-turn-prompt-added');
+    expect(exact.openNote).toBe('note');
+    expect(exact.panels.at(-1)!.balloon).toMatch(/Steps 5, 10 and 15: I added a second -m/);
+  });
+
   it('a helper reporting back is heard in its own words, not only "finished" (round 9)', () => {
     const [, readme, extra] = pagesOf('background-helpers-reports');
     expect(readme.panels[0].balloon).toBe('"Helper A: write README.md" reports: README.md');

test/story-mode-ui.test.ts

@@ -36,10 +36,14 @@ function storyOf(lines: unknown[]) {
   };
 }
 
+/** Every text a scene drew, in order (the fake context records `fillText`). */
+const drawnTexts: string[] = [];
+
 /** A 2D context that accepts every call; measureText answers a plausible width. */
 function fakeContext() {
   const target: Record<string, unknown> = {
     measureText: (text: string) => ({ width: String(text).length * 6 }),
+    fillText: (text: unknown) => void drawnTexts.push(String(text)),
   };
   return new Proxy(target, {
     get(t, key) {
@@ -886,6 +890,41 @@ describe('story-mode.js overlay', () => {
     expect(note.textContent).toBe('after asking a stronger AI model for a second opinion');
   });
 
+  it('a second opinion asked in the middle of a step says so, and the badge counts the card in front', async () => {
+    const advisor = {
+      type: 'assistant',
+      timestamp: '2026-10-18T09:41:20.000Z',
+      message: {
+        content: [
+          { type: 'server_tool_use', id: 'srv1', name: 'advisor', input: {} },
+          { type: 'advisor_tool_result', tool_use_id: 'srv1', content: { type: 'advisor_redacted_result' } },
+        ],
+      },
+    };
+    boot(
+      storyOf([
+        prompt('fix it'),
+        ...edit('e1', '/work/demo-shop/a.py', ['+a = 1', '+b = 2']),
+        advisor,
+        ...edit('e2', '/work/demo-shop/b.py', ['+c = 3', '+d = 4', '+e = 5']),
+        end(1000),
+      ])
+    );
+    drawnTexts.length = 0;
+    app.openStoryMode(SID);
+    await settle();
+    expect($('.story-panel[data-kind="fix"] .story-cap-note')!.textContent).toBe(
+      'along the way, asks a stronger AI model for a second opinion'
+    );
+    // Two files: the badge counts a.py, the card in front (+2), not the panel's +5. (JSDOM lays out
+    // nothing, so the panel is given a size and drawn late in its animation, the badge showing.)
+    const rt = app._story.panels.find((p: { kind: string }) => p.kind === 'fix');
+    Object.assign(rt, { w: 600, h: 270, dpr: 1, bgKey: '', clock: 200 });
+    app._storyDrawPanel(rt);
+    expect(drawnTexts).toContain('+2');
+    expect(drawnTexts).not.toContain('+5');
+  });
+
   it('a second opinion that came back with an error says no answer came', async () => {
     const failed = {
       type: 'assistant',