diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/index.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/index.tsx
index b9f0b1a75c2..fb8175102b0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/index.tsx
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ export function ChatView({
           )}
           {showChatBar && <ScrollToBottomButton />}
           {/* Vibe hearts rise from the composer only when no pet is out (else
-              they play on the pet). DEV Shift+H to preview; not wired to ily/<3 yet. */}
+              they play on the pet). Fired by the core `reaction` event. */}
           {!petPresent && (
             <HeartField
               className="absolute inset-x-0 z-30"
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/chat/vibe-hearts.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/chat/vibe-hearts.tsx
index 17b9a61351c..b4f5e7e1a24 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/chat/vibe-hearts.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/chat/vibe-hearts.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { type CSSProperties, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { type CSSProperties } from 'react'
 
 import {
   createParticleEmitter,
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import { $petOverlayActive, forwardPetReaction } from '@/store/pet-overlay'
 /**
  * TikTok-style floating hearts — a thin skin over {@link ParticleField} (pixel
  * heart glyph + pink). Placed two ways: rising from the composer when no pet is
- * out, or from the pet when one is. Not wired to vibes/`ily`/`<3` yet — call
- * {@link burstVibeHearts} (or hit the DEV hotkey Shift+H).
+ * out, or from the pet when one is. Fired by the core `reaction` event (affection
+ * in a user message) via {@link burstVibeHearts}.
  */
 
 // Light pink reads on both light and dark chat surfaces.
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ const emitter = createParticleEmitter()
 export const playVibeHearts = (count?: number) => emitter.burst(count)
 
 /**
- * Fire a vibe burst from anywhere (hotkey, future `ily`/`<3` wiring). Routes to
- * where the affection should land:
+ * Fire a vibe burst (from the core `reaction` event). Routes to where the
+ * affection should land:
  *  - pet popped out  → forward to the overlay window + celebrate (mirrored)
  *  - pet in-window   → play here (on the pet) + celebrate
  *  - no pet          → play here (composer)
@@ -75,29 +75,6 @@ export const burstVibeHearts = (count?: number) => {
   }
 }
 
-/** DEV-only preview: Shift+H, firing even while the composer is focused. Mount
- *  once in an always-present component (FloatingPet) — a single listener. */
-export function useHeartPreviewHotkey() {
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!import.meta.env.DEV) {
-      return
-    }
-
-    const onKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
-      if (!e.shiftKey || e.repeat || e.altKey || e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey || e.code !== 'KeyH') {
-        return
-      }
-
-      e.preventDefault()
-      burstVibeHearts()
-    }
-
-    window.addEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
-
-    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
-  }, [])
-}
-
 export interface HeartFieldProps {
   config?: Partial<ParticleFieldConfig>
   className?: string
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx
index 3d89c57c460..399ed1bf485 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { useGatewayRequest } from '@/app/gateway/hooks/use-gateway-request'
 import { useOnProfileSwitch } from '@/app/hooks/use-on-profile-switch'
 import { useRouteOverlayActive } from '@/app/hooks/use-route-overlay-active'
-import { PetHeartField, useHeartPreviewHotkey } from '@/components/chat/vibe-hearts'
+import { PetHeartField } from '@/components/chat/vibe-hearts'
 import { persistString, storedString } from '@/lib/storage'
 import {
   $petAtRest,
@@ -121,10 +121,6 @@ export function FloatingPet() {
   const roamDir = useStore($petRoamDir)
   const routeOverlayOpen = useRouteOverlayActive()
 
-  // DEV Shift+H heart preview lives here — FloatingPet is always mounted
-  // (app-shell), so one listener covers every route whether a pet is out or not.
-  useHeartPreviewHotkey()
-
   const [position, setPosition] = useState<Point>(loadPosition)
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null)
   // The facing mirror lives on the sprite wrapper, not the container, so the