diff --git a/game.js b/game.js
index 61de6b9..04e77c9 100644
--- a/game.js
+++ b/game.js
@@ -436,9 +436,9 @@ class Game {
     const hint = document.getElementById('map-talk-hint');
     const bub  = document.getElementById('npc-bubble');
     if (hint) {
-      hint.style.display = near ? 'block' : 'none';
       hint.style.left   = (viewW / 2 - 28) + 'px';
       hint.style.bottom = (viewH * 0.50) + 'px';
+      hint.classList.toggle('visible', near);
     }
     if (bub) bub.style.opacity = near ? '0' : '1';
     this._updateDirArrow(near);
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class Game {
     }
     this._applyCamera();
     const hint = document.getElementById('map-talk-hint');
-    if (hint) hint.style.display = 'none';
+    if (hint) hint.classList.remove('visible');
   }
 
   /* ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index ff51fcc..8a251b3 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ html, body {
   background-position: 0 0;
   image-rendering: pixelated;
   filter: drop-shadow(2px 3px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.4));
-  z-index: 99;
+  z-index: 9999;
   font-size: 0;
   color: transparent;
 }
@@ -519,8 +519,13 @@ html, body {
   padding: 3px 6px;
   white-space: nowrap;
   z-index: 11;
-  animation: talkBubble .6s ease-in-out infinite;
   pointer-events: none;
+  display: none;
+  bottom: -9999px;
+}
+.map-talk-hint.visible {
+  display: block;
+  animation: talkBubble .6s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 /* Desktop: show "Press E", hide "Press A" */
 .hint-touch { display: none; }