diff --git a/web/src/structured.test.ts b/web/src/structured.test.ts
index fe288bc..de28fff 100644
--- a/web/src/structured.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/structured.test.ts
@@ -468,18 +468,40 @@ describe("structured connection: data flow", () => {
       },
     });
     ws.emit({ type: "reduced_state", state: respondingState });
-    // While the turn is active, the last intermediate text (agent:2) stays
-    // outside the collapsed group so it's visible as current narration.
-    expect(conn.el.querySelector('[data-row-id="agent:2"]')?.closest(".st-tool-group")).toBeNull();
-    // Earlier intermediate text (agent:1) is still inside the group.
+    // Intermediate updates stay inside the collapsed activity disclosure,
+    // rather than becoming a second visible transcript alongside its summary.
+    expect(conn.el.querySelector('[data-row-id="agent:2"]')?.closest(".st-tool-group")).not.toBeNull();
     expect(conn.el.querySelector('[data-row-id="agent:1"]')?.closest(".st-tool-group")).not.toBeNull();
-    // When the turn ends, all intermediate text is absorbed.
+    // It remains collapsed when the turn ends.
     ws.emit({ type: "reduced_state", state: idleState });
     expect(conn.el.querySelector('[data-row-id="agent:2"]')?.closest(".st-tool-group")).not.toBeNull();
     expect(conn.el.querySelector('[data-row-id="agent:1"]')?.closest(".st-tool-group")).not.toBeNull();
     conn.dispose();
   });
 
+  it("collapses trailing thought commentary with a turn's tool activity", () => {
+    const ws = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
+    ws.open();
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "transcript_snapshot",
+      snapshot: {
+        cursor: 5,
+        rows: [
+          row("user:1", "user", { content: { type: "text", text: "do it" } }),
+          toolRow("tool:1", "one"),
+          toolRow("tool:2", "two"),
+          row("thought:1", "agent_thought", { content: { type: "text", text: "Checking the next step" } }),
+          row("thought:2", "agent_thought", { content: { type: "text", text: "Preparing the change" } }),
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    for (const id of ["thought:1", "thought:2"]) {
+      expect(conn.el.querySelector(`[data-row-id="${id}"]`)?.closest(".st-tool-group")).not.toBeNull();
+    }
+    conn.dispose();
+  });
+
   it("keeps an expanded running tool open without emitting a click when patched", () => {
     const ws = new FakeSocket();
     const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
diff --git a/web/src/structured.ts b/web/src/structured.ts
index 3651215..e17c03b 100644
--- a/web/src/structured.ts
+++ b/web/src/structured.ts
@@ -488,24 +488,14 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
         groups.set(currentGid, group);
       }
     }
-    // pending at end of a turn = final text/approvals, stays outside (not flushed).
-
-    // While the turn is still active, keep the last intermediate text/thought
-    // row outside the collapsed group so it's visible as the agent's current
-    // narration. It gets absorbed on the next rebuild once newer content
-    // arrives or the turn ends.
-    const turnActive = state.turn.responding || state.turn.thinking;
-    if (turnActive) {
-      const lastGroup = groups.get(currentGid);
-      if (lastGroup) {
-        for (let i = lastGroup.rows.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
-          const kind = lastGroup.rows[i].kind;
-          if (kind === "agent_text" || kind === "agent_thought") {
-            lastGroup.rows.splice(i, 1);
-            break;
-          }
-        }
-      }
+    // A final agent text is the answer, so it stays outside. Thought rows are
+    // working commentary, though: when a turn already has a disclosure they
+    // belong with its activity even if the next tool call has not arrived yet.
+    // Leaving that tail loose made a busy agent look like it was publishing a
+    // long italic answer above a collapsed "N tool calls" summary.
+    const lastGroup = groups.get(currentGid);
+    if (lastGroup && pending.length > 0 && pending.every((row) => row.kind === "agent_thought")) {
+      lastGroup.rows.push(...pending);
     }
 
     return groups;
diff --git a/web/src/styles.css b/web/src/styles.css
index 38898c2..737db1e 100644
--- a/web/src/styles.css
+++ b/web/src/styles.css
@@ -2507,7 +2507,8 @@ input.leaf-rename:focus {
 
 .st-row-thought {
   color: var(--faint);
-  font-style: italic;
+  font-size: var(--fs-12);
+  line-height: 1.4;
   white-space: pre-wrap;
   overflow-wrap: anywhere;
 }