diff --git a/src/components/SiteNavigation.vue b/src/components/SiteNavigation.vue
index 981d1a0..d9f2534 100644
--- a/src/components/SiteNavigation.vue
+++ b/src/components/SiteNavigation.vue
@@ -1,43 +1,34 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import type { SectionId } from '@/content/types';
+import { watch } from "vue";
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import { useJourneySections } from "@/composables/useJourneySections";
+import { useKeyboardNavigation } from "@/composables/useKeyboardNavigation";
 
-defineProps<{ items: ReadonlyArray<{ id: SectionId; label: string }> }>();
+const props = defineProps<{
+  items: ReadonlyArray<{ id: SectionId; label: string }>;
+}>();
+const canonicalIds = props.items.map((item) => item.id);
+const navigation = useKeyboardNavigation(canonicalIds);
+const journey = useJourneySections(canonicalIds, navigation.state);
 
-const focusActivatedSection = (event: MouseEvent): void => {
-  if (
-    event.defaultPrevented ||
-    event.button !== 0 ||
-    event.altKey ||
-    event.ctrlKey ||
-    event.metaKey ||
-    event.shiftKey ||
-    !(event.currentTarget instanceof HTMLAnchorElement)
-  ) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  let sectionId: string;
-  try {
-    sectionId = decodeURIComponent(event.currentTarget.hash.slice(1));
-  } catch {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  const section = document.getElementById(sectionId);
-  const heading = section?.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
-    ':scope > h2[tabindex="-1"]',
-  );
-  if (heading === undefined || heading === null) return;
-
-  requestAnimationFrame(() => heading.focus({ preventScroll: true }));
-};
+watch(
+  () => journey.value.activeSectionId,
+  (id) => navigation.notePassiveSection(id),
+);
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <nav class="site-navigation" aria-label="Portfolio sections">
     <ul>
       <li v-for="item in items" :key="item.id">
-        <a :href="`#${item.id}`" @click="focusActivatedSection">{{ item.label }}</a>
+        <a
+          :href="`#${item.id}`"
+          :aria-current="
+            journey.activeSectionId === item.id ? 'page' : undefined
+          "
+          @click="navigation.onSectionLinkClick"
+          >{{ item.label }}</a
+        >
       </li>
     </ul>
   </nav>
diff --git a/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts b/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2fbe19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/composables/useJourneySections.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+import {
+  onMounted,
+  onUnmounted,
+  readonly,
+  shallowRef,
+  watch,
+  type Ref,
+} from "vue";
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import type { NavigationState } from "@/journey/navigation-controller";
+import {
+  activationLineDocumentY,
+  deriveSectionState,
+  isAtDocumentEnd,
+  selectActiveSection,
+  type SectionHeadingGeometry,
+} from "@/journey/section-controller";
+import { nextSign } from "@/journey/sign-controller";
+import type { JourneySnapshot } from "@/journey/types";
+import { useScrollDrive } from "./useScrollDrive";
+
+const PASSIVE_LISTENER: AddEventListenerOptions = { passive: true };
+
+const initialJourney = (activeSectionId: SectionId): JourneySnapshot => ({
+  scrollY: 0,
+  routeProgress: 0,
+  direction: 0,
+  acceleration: 0,
+  driveSpeed: 0.18,
+  ...deriveSectionState(activeSectionId),
+  sign: null,
+});
+
+export function useJourneySections(
+  canonicalIds: readonly SectionId[],
+  navigationState: Readonly<Ref<NavigationState>>,
+  motionAllowed?: Readonly<Ref<boolean>>,
+): Readonly<Ref<JourneySnapshot>> {
+  const firstId = canonicalIds[0];
+  if (firstId === undefined) {
+    throw new Error("At least one canonical journey section is required.");
+  }
+  const drive = useScrollDrive();
+  const snapshot = shallowRef<JourneySnapshot>(initialJourney(firstId));
+  let scheduleMeasurement = (): void => {};
+  let teardown = (): void => {};
+
+  const stopNavigationWatch = watch(
+    () => navigationState.value,
+    () => scheduleMeasurement(),
+  );
+  const stopMotionWatch =
+    motionAllowed === undefined
+      ? (): void => {}
+      : watch(motionAllowed, () => scheduleMeasurement());
+
+  onMounted(() => {
+    const visualViewport = window.visualViewport;
+    let frameId: number | undefined;
+    let disposed = false;
+    let previousScrollY = window.scrollY;
+    let previousActiveId = firstId;
+    let headings: readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[] = [];
+
+    const readHeadings = (): readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[] =>
+      canonicalIds.flatMap((id) => {
+        const heading = document.getElementById(`${id}-heading`);
+        return heading instanceof HTMLElement
+          ? [{ id, top: heading.getBoundingClientRect().top + window.scrollY }]
+          : [];
+      });
+
+    const measure = (): void => {
+      frameId = undefined;
+      headings = readHeadings();
+      if (headings.length === 0) return;
+
+      const scrollingElement =
+        document.scrollingElement ?? document.documentElement;
+      const viewportHeight =
+        visualViewport?.height ?? document.documentElement.clientHeight;
+      const viewportOffsetTop = visualViewport?.offsetTop ?? 0;
+      const scrollY = scrollingElement.scrollTop;
+      const activationY = activationLineDocumentY({
+        scrollY,
+        visualViewportOffsetTop: viewportOffsetTop,
+        visualViewportHeight: viewportHeight,
+      });
+      const atDocumentEnd = isAtDocumentEnd({
+        scrollY,
+        scrollHeight: scrollingElement.scrollHeight,
+        visualViewportHeight: viewportHeight,
+      });
+      const activeSectionId = selectActiveSection({
+        headings,
+        activationY,
+        atDocumentEnd,
+      });
+      const previousActiveIndex = canonicalIds.indexOf(previousActiveId);
+      const activeIndex = canonicalIds.indexOf(activeSectionId);
+      const crossedBoundaries = Math.abs(activeIndex - previousActiveIndex);
+      const deltaY = scrollY - previousScrollY;
+      const currentSign = snapshot.value.sign;
+      const signTargetId =
+        currentSign?.targetId ?? canonicalIds[activeIndex + 1] ?? null;
+      const signTarget = headings.find(
+        (heading) => heading.id === signTargetId,
+      );
+      const sign =
+        signTargetId === null || signTarget === undefined || viewportHeight <= 0
+          ? null
+          : nextSign(currentSign, {
+              source: navigationState.value.source,
+              deltaY,
+              viewportHeight,
+              crossedBoundaries,
+              candidateId: signTargetId,
+              distanceVh: (signTarget.top - activationY) / viewportHeight,
+              motionAllowed: motionAllowed?.value ?? true,
+            });
+      const sectionState = deriveSectionState(activeSectionId);
+      snapshot.value = {
+        ...drive.value,
+        routeProgress: atDocumentEnd ? 1 : drive.value.routeProgress,
+        ...sectionState,
+        sign,
+      };
+      previousScrollY = scrollY;
+      previousActiveId = activeSectionId;
+    };
+
+    scheduleMeasurement = (): void => {
+      if (
+        !disposed &&
+        frameId === undefined &&
+        document.visibilityState !== "hidden"
+      ) {
+        frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(measure);
+      }
+    };
+
+    const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver(scheduleMeasurement);
+    resizeObserver.observe(document.documentElement);
+    for (const id of canonicalIds) {
+      const section = document.getElementById(id);
+      const heading = document.getElementById(`${id}-heading`);
+      if (section !== null) resizeObserver.observe(section);
+      if (heading !== null) resizeObserver.observe(heading);
+    }
+    for (const media of document.querySelectorAll("img, video")) {
+      resizeObserver.observe(media);
+    }
+
+    const handleVisibility = (): void => {
+      if (document.visibilityState === "hidden") {
+        if (frameId !== undefined) {
+          window.cancelAnimationFrame(frameId);
+          frameId = undefined;
+        }
+        return;
+      }
+      previousScrollY = window.scrollY;
+      scheduleMeasurement();
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener("scroll", scheduleMeasurement, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    window.addEventListener("resize", scheduleMeasurement, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    window.addEventListener(
+      "orientationchange",
+      scheduleMeasurement,
+      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+    );
+    visualViewport?.addEventListener(
+      "resize",
+      scheduleMeasurement,
+      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+    );
+    visualViewport?.addEventListener(
+      "scroll",
+      scheduleMeasurement,
+      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+    );
+    document.addEventListener("load", scheduleMeasurement, true);
+    document.addEventListener("loadedmetadata", scheduleMeasurement, true);
+    document.addEventListener(
+      "visibilitychange",
+      handleVisibility,
+      PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+    );
+
+    scheduleMeasurement();
+    void document.fonts.ready.then(() => scheduleMeasurement());
+
+    teardown = (): void => {
+      disposed = true;
+      window.removeEventListener(
+        "scroll",
+        scheduleMeasurement,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      window.removeEventListener(
+        "resize",
+        scheduleMeasurement,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      window.removeEventListener(
+        "orientationchange",
+        scheduleMeasurement,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      visualViewport?.removeEventListener(
+        "resize",
+        scheduleMeasurement,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      visualViewport?.removeEventListener(
+        "scroll",
+        scheduleMeasurement,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      document.removeEventListener("load", scheduleMeasurement, true);
+      document.removeEventListener("loadedmetadata", scheduleMeasurement, true);
+      document.removeEventListener(
+        "visibilitychange",
+        handleVisibility,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      resizeObserver.disconnect();
+      if (frameId !== undefined) {
+        window.cancelAnimationFrame(frameId);
+        frameId = undefined;
+      }
+    };
+  });
+
+  onUnmounted(() => {
+    stopNavigationWatch();
+    stopMotionWatch();
+    teardown();
+  });
+
+  return readonly(snapshot);
+}
diff --git a/src/composables/useKeyboardNavigation.ts b/src/composables/useKeyboardNavigation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3da75af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/composables/useKeyboardNavigation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+import { onMounted, onUnmounted, readonly, shallowRef, type Ref } from "vue";
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import {
+  canonicalSectionIdFromHash,
+  createNavigationController,
+  validateSectionAnchor,
+  type NavigationController,
+  type NavigationState,
+} from "@/journey/navigation-controller";
+
+const PASSIVE_LISTENER: AddEventListenerOptions = { passive: true };
+const SCROLL_KEYS = new Set([
+  "PageUp",
+  "PageDown",
+  "Home",
+  "End",
+  " ",
+  "Spacebar",
+  "ArrowUp",
+  "ArrowDown",
+  "ArrowLeft",
+  "ArrowRight",
+]);
+
+export const isScrollIntentKey = (key: string): boolean => SCROLL_KEYS.has(key);
+
+const isEditableTarget = (target: EventTarget | null): boolean =>
+  target instanceof HTMLElement &&
+  (target.isContentEditable ||
+    target instanceof HTMLInputElement ||
+    target instanceof HTMLTextAreaElement ||
+    target instanceof HTMLSelectElement);
+
+export interface KeyboardNavigation {
+  state: Readonly<Ref<NavigationState>>;
+  onSectionLinkClick(event: MouseEvent): void;
+  notePassiveSection(id: SectionId): void;
+}
+
+export function useKeyboardNavigation(
+  canonicalIds: readonly SectionId[],
+): KeyboardNavigation {
+  const state = shallowRef<NavigationState>({
+    epoch: 0,
+    source: "initial",
+    destinationId: null,
+  });
+  let controller: NavigationController | undefined;
+  let teardown = (): void => {};
+
+  const restoreCurrentFragment = (
+    source: "initial" | "history-restoration",
+  ): void => {
+    if (controller === undefined) return;
+    const id = canonicalSectionIdFromHash(window.location.hash, canonicalIds);
+    if (id === null) return;
+    const target = document.getElementById(id);
+    if (!(target instanceof HTMLElement)) return;
+    if (source === "initial") controller.initialize(id, target);
+    else controller.restore(id, target);
+  };
+
+  const onSectionLinkClick = (event: MouseEvent): void => {
+    if (
+      event.defaultPrevented ||
+      event.button !== 0 ||
+      event.altKey ||
+      event.ctrlKey ||
+      event.metaKey ||
+      event.shiftKey ||
+      controller === undefined ||
+      !(event.currentTarget instanceof HTMLAnchorElement)
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const validated = validateSectionAnchor(event.currentTarget, canonicalIds);
+    if (validated === null) return;
+    event.preventDefault();
+    controller.navigate(validated.id, validated.target);
+  };
+
+  onMounted(() => {
+    controller = createNavigationController(canonicalIds);
+    const unsubscribe = controller.subscribe((nextState) => {
+      state.value = nextState;
+    });
+    const noteScrollIntent = (): void => {
+      controller?.noteUserScrollIntent();
+    };
+    const handleKeydown = (event: KeyboardEvent): void => {
+      if (
+        event.altKey ||
+        event.ctrlKey ||
+        event.metaKey ||
+        event.shiftKey ||
+        isEditableTarget(event.target) ||
+        !isScrollIntentKey(event.key)
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+      noteScrollIntent();
+    };
+    const handlePopstate = (): void =>
+      restoreCurrentFragment("history-restoration");
+    const handlePageshow = (event: PageTransitionEvent): void => {
+      if (event.persisted) restoreCurrentFragment("history-restoration");
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener("wheel", noteScrollIntent, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    window.addEventListener("touchmove", noteScrollIntent, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+    window.addEventListener("keydown", handleKeydown);
+    window.addEventListener("popstate", handlePopstate);
+    window.addEventListener("pageshow", handlePageshow);
+
+    if (window.location.hash !== "") restoreCurrentFragment("initial");
+
+    teardown = (): void => {
+      window.removeEventListener("wheel", noteScrollIntent, PASSIVE_LISTENER);
+      window.removeEventListener(
+        "touchmove",
+        noteScrollIntent,
+        PASSIVE_LISTENER,
+      );
+      window.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKeydown);
+      window.removeEventListener("popstate", handlePopstate);
+      window.removeEventListener("pageshow", handlePageshow);
+      unsubscribe();
+      controller?.dispose();
+      controller = undefined;
+    };
+  });
+
+  onUnmounted(() => teardown());
+
+  return {
+    state: readonly(state),
+    onSectionLinkClick,
+    notePassiveSection(id) {
+      controller?.notePassiveSection(id);
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/journey/navigation-controller.ts b/src/journey/navigation-controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d56e7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/journey/navigation-controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,321 @@
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import type { JourneySource } from "./types";
+
+export interface NavigationState {
+  epoch: number;
+  source: JourneySource;
+  destinationId: SectionId | null;
+}
+
+export interface NavigationRuntime {
+  getHash(): string;
+  pushHash(hash: string): void;
+  replaceHash(hash: string): void;
+  scrollTarget(target: HTMLElement, behavior: ScrollBehavior): void;
+  focusHeading(target: HTMLElement): void;
+  getScrollY(): number;
+  requestFrame(callback: FrameRequestCallback): number;
+  cancelFrame(id: number): void;
+  setTimer(callback: () => void, delay: number): number;
+  clearTimer(id: number): void;
+  supportsScrollEnd: boolean;
+  addScrollEndListener(listener: EventListener): void;
+  removeScrollEndListener(listener: EventListener): void;
+}
+
+export interface NavigationController {
+  navigate(id: SectionId, target: HTMLElement): number;
+  noteUserScrollIntent(): number;
+  notePassiveSection(id: SectionId): void;
+  initialize(id: SectionId, target: HTMLElement): number;
+  restore(id: SectionId, target: HTMLElement): number;
+  state(): NavigationState;
+  subscribe(listener: (state: NavigationState) => void): () => void;
+  dispose(): void;
+}
+
+const SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS = 1500;
+const PASSIVE_REPLACE_DELAY_MS = 150;
+const STABLE_FRAME_COUNT = 3;
+const STABLE_SCROLL_DELTA_PX = 1;
+
+export function canonicalSectionIdFromHash(
+  hash: string,
+  canonicalIds: readonly SectionId[],
+): SectionId | null {
+  const encoded = hash.startsWith("#") ? hash.slice(1) : hash;
+  if (encoded === "") return canonicalIds[0] ?? null;
+  let decoded: string;
+  try {
+    decoded = decodeURIComponent(encoded);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return canonicalIds.find((id) => id === decoded) ?? null;
+}
+
+export function validateSectionAnchor(
+  anchor: HTMLAnchorElement,
+  canonicalIds: readonly SectionId[],
+): { id: SectionId; target: HTMLElement } | null {
+  let url: URL;
+  try {
+    url = new URL(anchor.href, window.location.href);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (
+    url.origin !== window.location.origin ||
+    url.pathname !== window.location.pathname ||
+    url.search !== window.location.search
+  ) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const id = canonicalSectionIdFromHash(url.hash, canonicalIds);
+  if (id === null) return null;
+  const target = document.getElementById(id);
+  if (!(target instanceof HTMLElement) || target.id !== id) return null;
+  const heading = target.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+    ':scope > h2[tabindex="-1"]',
+  );
+  return heading === null ? null : { id, target };
+}
+
+const browserRuntime = (): NavigationRuntime => ({
+  getHash: () => window.location.hash,
+  pushHash: (hash) => window.history.pushState(window.history.state, "", hash),
+  replaceHash: (hash) =>
+    window.history.replaceState(window.history.state, "", hash),
+  scrollTarget: (target, behavior) =>
+    target.scrollIntoView({ behavior, block: "start" }),
+  focusHeading: (target) => {
+    target
+      .querySelector<HTMLElement>(':scope > h2[tabindex="-1"]')
+      ?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+  },
+  getScrollY: () => window.scrollY,
+  requestFrame: (callback) => window.requestAnimationFrame(callback),
+  cancelFrame: (id) => window.cancelAnimationFrame(id),
+  setTimer: (callback, delay) => window.setTimeout(callback, delay),
+  clearTimer: (id) => window.clearTimeout(id),
+  supportsScrollEnd: "onscrollend" in window,
+  addScrollEndListener: (listener) =>
+    window.addEventListener("scrollend", listener),
+  removeScrollEndListener: (listener) =>
+    window.removeEventListener("scrollend", listener),
+});
+
+export function createNavigationController(
+  canonicalIds: readonly SectionId[],
+  runtime: NavigationRuntime = browserRuntime(),
+): NavigationController {
+  let currentState: NavigationState = {
+    epoch: 0,
+    source: "initial",
+    destinationId: null,
+  };
+  const subscribers = new Set<(state: NavigationState) => void>();
+  let frameId: number | undefined;
+  let settleTimerId: number | undefined;
+  let passiveTimerId: number | undefined;
+  let scrollEndListener: EventListener | undefined;
+
+  const emit = (): void => {
+    for (const subscriber of subscribers) subscriber({ ...currentState });
+  };
+
+  const cancelSettle = (): void => {
+    if (frameId !== undefined) {
+      runtime.cancelFrame(frameId);
+      frameId = undefined;
+    }
+    if (settleTimerId !== undefined) {
+      runtime.clearTimer(settleTimerId);
+      settleTimerId = undefined;
+    }
+    if (scrollEndListener !== undefined) {
+      runtime.removeScrollEndListener(scrollEndListener);
+      scrollEndListener = undefined;
+    }
+  };
+
+  const cancelPassiveReplace = (): void => {
+    if (passiveTimerId !== undefined) {
+      runtime.clearTimer(passiveTimerId);
+      passiveTimerId = undefined;
+    }
+  };
+
+  const cancelPending = (): void => {
+    cancelSettle();
+    cancelPassiveReplace();
+  };
+
+  const beginEpoch = (
+    source: JourneySource,
+    destinationId: SectionId | null,
+  ): number => {
+    cancelPending();
+    currentState = {
+      epoch: currentState.epoch + 1,
+      source,
+      destinationId,
+    };
+    emit();
+    return currentState.epoch;
+  };
+
+  const requireTarget = (id: SectionId, target: HTMLElement): void => {
+    if (!canonicalIds.includes(id) || target.id !== id) {
+      throw new Error(`Invalid canonical navigation target: ${id}`);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const settleExplicit = (
+    epoch: number,
+    id: SectionId,
+    target: HTMLElement,
+  ): void => {
+    if (
+      currentState.epoch !== epoch ||
+      currentState.source !== "explicit-navigation" ||
+      currentState.destinationId !== id
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+    cancelSettle();
+    frameId = runtime.requestFrame(() => {
+      frameId = undefined;
+      if (
+        currentState.epoch === epoch &&
+        currentState.source === "explicit-navigation" &&
+        currentState.destinationId === id
+      ) {
+        runtime.focusHeading(target);
+      }
+    });
+  };
+
+  const scheduleSettle = (
+    epoch: number,
+    id: SectionId,
+    target: HTMLElement,
+  ): void => {
+    settleTimerId = runtime.setTimer(() => {
+      settleTimerId = undefined;
+      if (
+        currentState.epoch !== epoch ||
+        currentState.source !== "explicit-navigation" ||
+        currentState.destinationId !== id
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+      runtime.scrollTarget(target, "instant");
+      settleExplicit(epoch, id, target);
+    }, SETTLE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+
+    if (runtime.supportsScrollEnd) {
+      scrollEndListener = (): void => settleExplicit(epoch, id, target);
+      runtime.addScrollEndListener(scrollEndListener);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let previousScrollY = runtime.getScrollY();
+    let stableFrames = 0;
+    const inspectFrame = (): void => {
+      frameId = undefined;
+      if (
+        currentState.epoch !== epoch ||
+        currentState.source !== "explicit-navigation" ||
+        currentState.destinationId !== id
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const scrollY = runtime.getScrollY();
+      stableFrames =
+        Math.abs(scrollY - previousScrollY) < STABLE_SCROLL_DELTA_PX
+          ? stableFrames + 1
+          : 0;
+      previousScrollY = scrollY;
+      if (stableFrames >= STABLE_FRAME_COUNT) {
+        settleExplicit(epoch, id, target);
+      } else {
+        frameId = runtime.requestFrame(inspectFrame);
+      }
+    };
+    frameId = runtime.requestFrame(inspectFrame);
+  };
+
+  const alignWithoutFocus = (
+    source: "initial" | "history-restoration",
+    id: SectionId,
+    target: HTMLElement,
+  ): number => {
+    requireTarget(id, target);
+    const epoch = beginEpoch(source, id);
+    if (source === "initial") {
+      runtime.scrollTarget(target, "instant");
+    } else {
+      frameId = runtime.requestFrame(() => {
+        frameId = undefined;
+        if (
+          currentState.epoch === epoch &&
+          currentState.source === source &&
+          currentState.destinationId === id
+        ) {
+          runtime.scrollTarget(target, "instant");
+        }
+      });
+    }
+    return epoch;
+  };
+
+  return {
+    navigate(id, target) {
+      requireTarget(id, target);
+      const epoch = beginEpoch("explicit-navigation", id);
+      if (canonicalSectionIdFromHash(runtime.getHash(), canonicalIds) !== id) {
+        runtime.pushHash(`#${id}`);
+      }
+      scheduleSettle(epoch, id, target);
+      runtime.scrollTarget(target, "smooth");
+      return epoch;
+    },
+    noteUserScrollIntent() {
+      return beginEpoch("passive-scroll", null);
+    },
+    notePassiveSection(id) {
+      if (currentState.source !== "passive-scroll") return;
+      cancelPassiveReplace();
+      const epoch = currentState.epoch;
+      passiveTimerId = runtime.setTimer(() => {
+        passiveTimerId = undefined;
+        if (
+          currentState.epoch === epoch &&
+          currentState.source === "passive-scroll" &&
+          canonicalSectionIdFromHash(runtime.getHash(), canonicalIds) !== id
+        ) {
+          runtime.replaceHash(`#${id}`);
+        }
+      }, PASSIVE_REPLACE_DELAY_MS);
+    },
+    initialize(id, target) {
+      return alignWithoutFocus("initial", id, target);
+    },
+    restore(id, target) {
+      return alignWithoutFocus("history-restoration", id, target);
+    },
+    state: () => ({ ...currentState }),
+    subscribe(listener) {
+      subscribers.add(listener);
+      listener({ ...currentState });
+      return () => subscribers.delete(listener);
+    },
+    dispose() {
+      cancelPending();
+      currentState = { ...currentState, epoch: currentState.epoch + 1 };
+      subscribers.clear();
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/journey/section-controller.ts b/src/journey/section-controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..888ab00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/journey/section-controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import type { EnvironmentChapter } from "./types";
+
+export interface SectionHeadingGeometry {
+  id: SectionId;
+  top: number;
+}
+
+export interface ActiveSectionInput {
+  headings: readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[];
+  activationY: number;
+  atDocumentEnd: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface DerivedSectionState {
+  activeSectionId: SectionId;
+  chapter: EnvironmentChapter;
+  arrived: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface ActivationLineInput {
+  scrollY: number;
+  visualViewportOffsetTop: number;
+  visualViewportHeight: number;
+}
+
+export const activationLineDocumentY = (input: ActivationLineInput): number =>
+  input.scrollY +
+  input.visualViewportOffsetTop +
+  input.visualViewportHeight * 0.35;
+
+export interface DocumentEndInput {
+  scrollY: number;
+  scrollHeight: number;
+  visualViewportHeight: number;
+}
+
+export const isAtDocumentEnd = (input: DocumentEndInput): boolean =>
+  Math.max(0, input.scrollHeight - input.visualViewportHeight) -
+    input.scrollY <=
+  2;
+
+export function selectActiveSection(input: ActiveSectionInput): SectionId {
+  const first = input.headings[0];
+  if (first === undefined) {
+    throw new Error("At least one canonical section heading is required.");
+  }
+  if (input.atDocumentEnd) {
+    return input.headings[input.headings.length - 1]?.id ?? first.id;
+  }
+
+  let active = first.id;
+  for (const heading of input.headings) {
+    if (heading.top <= input.activationY) active = heading.id;
+  }
+  return active;
+}
+
+const chapters: Readonly<Record<SectionId, EnvironmentChapter>> = {
+  start: "deep-night",
+  profile: "deep-night",
+  experience: "systems",
+  infrastructure: "infrastructure",
+  "selected-builds": "builds",
+  "additional-work": "builds",
+  toolkit: "pre-dawn",
+  contact: "destination",
+};
+
+export function deriveSectionState(
+  activeSectionId: SectionId,
+): DerivedSectionState {
+  return {
+    activeSectionId,
+    chapter: chapters[activeSectionId],
+    arrived: activeSectionId === "contact",
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/journey/sign-controller.ts b/src/journey/sign-controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff77238
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/journey/sign-controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import type { JourneySource, SignSnapshot } from "./types";
+
+export interface SignSample {
+  source: JourneySource;
+  deltaY: number;
+  viewportHeight: number;
+  crossedBoundaries: number;
+  candidateId: SectionId | null;
+  distanceVh: number;
+  motionAllowed: boolean;
+}
+
+const clamp01 = (value: number): number => Math.min(1, Math.max(0, value));
+
+export function nextSign(
+  current: SignSnapshot | null,
+  input: SignSample,
+): SignSnapshot | null {
+  const eligible =
+    input.motionAllowed &&
+    input.source === "passive-scroll" &&
+    Number.isFinite(input.deltaY) &&
+    Number.isFinite(input.viewportHeight) &&
+    Number.isFinite(input.distanceVh) &&
+    input.viewportHeight > 0 &&
+    input.deltaY > 0 &&
+    input.deltaY <= input.viewportHeight * 0.75 &&
+    input.crossedBoundaries <= 1;
+
+  if (!eligible || input.distanceVh > 1.2 || input.distanceVh <= -0.25) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const targetId = current?.targetId ?? input.candidateId;
+  if (targetId === null) return null;
+
+  if (input.distanceVh > 0.55) {
+    return {
+      targetId,
+      phase: "approach",
+      progress: clamp01((1.2 - input.distanceVh) / 0.65),
+    };
+  }
+  if (input.distanceVh > 0.15) {
+    return { targetId, phase: "stabilized", progress: 1 };
+  }
+  return {
+    targetId,
+    phase: "pass",
+    progress: clamp01((0.15 - input.distanceVh) / 0.4),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/journey/types.ts b/src/journey/types.ts
index be2abac..864eff9 100644
--- a/src/journey/types.ts
+++ b/src/journey/types.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+
 export interface ScrollDriveSample {
   scrollY: number;
   now: number;
@@ -16,3 +18,27 @@ export interface ScrollDriveController {
   sample(input: ScrollDriveSample): ScrollDriveSnapshot;
   reset(input?: ScrollDriveSample): ScrollDriveSnapshot;
 }
+
+export type JourneySource =
+  "initial" | "explicit-navigation" | "passive-scroll" | "history-restoration";
+
+export type EnvironmentChapter =
+  | "deep-night"
+  | "systems"
+  | "infrastructure"
+  | "builds"
+  | "pre-dawn"
+  | "destination";
+
+export interface SignSnapshot {
+  targetId: SectionId;
+  phase: "approach" | "stabilized" | "pass";
+  progress: number;
+}
+
+export interface JourneySnapshot extends ScrollDriveSnapshot {
+  activeSectionId: SectionId;
+  chapter: EnvironmentChapter;
+  sign: SignSnapshot | null;
+  arrived: boolean;
+}
diff --git a/tests/browser/navigation.spec.ts b/tests/browser/navigation.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87b8c9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/browser/navigation.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+import { expect, test } from "../helpers/serve-dist";
+
+test("keeps canonical hrefs while creating exactly one or zero explicit history entries", async ({
+  page,
+  distUrl,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto(distUrl, { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  const initialLength = await page.evaluate(() => history.length);
+  const start = page.locator('nav a[href="#start"]');
+  const profile = page.locator('nav a[href="#profile"]');
+
+  await start.click();
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(`${distUrl}/`);
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => history.length)).toBe(initialLength);
+  await expect(page.locator("#start-heading")).toBeFocused();
+
+  await profile.click();
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(`${distUrl}/#profile`);
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => history.length)).toBe(initialLength + 1);
+  await expect(page.locator("#profile-heading")).toBeFocused();
+
+  await profile.click();
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => history.length)).toBe(initialLength + 1);
+  await expect(page.locator("#profile-heading")).toBeFocused();
+});
+
+test("cancels pending explicit focus when wheel intent intervenes", async ({
+  page,
+  distUrl,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto(distUrl, { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  const link = page.locator('nav a[href="#infrastructure"]');
+  await link.focus();
+  await page.evaluate(() => {
+    const anchor = document.querySelector<HTMLAnchorElement>(
+      'nav a[href="#infrastructure"]',
+    );
+    anchor?.addEventListener(
+      "click",
+      () =>
+        queueMicrotask(() =>
+          window.dispatchEvent(new WheelEvent("wheel", { deltaY: 40 })),
+        ),
+      { once: true },
+    );
+  });
+
+  await link.click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(100);
+  await expect(link).toBeFocused();
+  await expect(page.locator("#infrastructure-heading")).not.toBeFocused();
+});
+
+test("passive scrolling replaces a stable fragment without stealing focus", async ({
+  page,
+  distUrl,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto(distUrl, { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  const link = page.locator('nav a[href="#start"]');
+  await link.focus();
+
+  await page.evaluate(() => {
+    window.dispatchEvent(new WheelEvent("wheel", { deltaY: 20 }));
+    const heading = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>("#experience-heading");
+    if (heading === null) throw new Error("Missing experience heading");
+    window.scrollTo(0, heading.offsetTop - window.innerHeight * 0.35);
+  });
+
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(`${distUrl}/#experience`, { timeout: 2000 });
+  await expect(link).toBeFocused();
+  await expect(page.locator("#experience-heading")).not.toBeFocused();
+});
+
+test("back and forward restore sections without another history mutation or focus move", async ({
+  page,
+  distUrl,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto(distUrl, { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  await page.locator('nav a[href="#profile"]').click();
+  await page.locator('nav a[href="#experience"]').click();
+  const historyLength = await page.evaluate(() => history.length);
+  await expect(page.locator("#experience-heading")).toBeFocused();
+
+  await page.goBack();
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(`${distUrl}/#profile`);
+  await expect(page.locator("#profile")).toBeInViewport();
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => history.length)).toBe(historyLength);
+  await expect(page.locator("#profile-heading")).not.toBeFocused();
+
+  await page.goForward();
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(`${distUrl}/#experience`);
+  await expect(page.locator("#experience")).toBeInViewport();
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => history.length)).toBe(historyLength);
+  await expect(page.locator("#experience-heading")).not.toBeFocused();
+});
+
+test("direct initial fragments align without moving focus", async ({
+  page,
+  distUrl,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto(`${distUrl}/#toolkit`, { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+
+  await expect(page.locator("#toolkit")).toBeInViewport();
+  await expect(page.locator("#toolkit-heading")).not.toBeFocused();
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/navigation-controller.test.ts b/tests/unit/navigation-controller.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d3652a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/navigation-controller.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  canonicalSectionIdFromHash,
+  createNavigationController,
+  validateSectionAnchor,
+  type NavigationRuntime,
+} from "@/journey/navigation-controller";
+import type { SectionId } from "@/content/types";
+import { isScrollIntentKey } from "@/composables/useKeyboardNavigation";
+
+const sectionIds = [
+  "start",
+  "profile",
+  "experience",
+  "infrastructure",
+  "selected-builds",
+  "additional-work",
+  "toolkit",
+  "contact",
+] as const satisfies readonly SectionId[];
+
+interface RuntimeHarness {
+  runtime: NavigationRuntime;
+  hash: string;
+  scrollY: number;
+  pushes: string[];
+  replacements: string[];
+  scrolls: Array<{ id: string; behavior: ScrollBehavior }>;
+  focused: string[];
+  runFrame(scrollY?: number): void;
+  runTimer(delay: number): void;
+  emitScrollEnd(): void;
+}
+
+const createRuntime = (supportsScrollEnd: boolean): RuntimeHarness => {
+  const frames = new Map<number, FrameRequestCallback>();
+  const timers = new Map<number, { callback: () => void; delay: number }>();
+  const scrollEndListeners = new Set<EventListener>();
+  let nextId = 1;
+  const harness: RuntimeHarness = {
+    hash: "",
+    scrollY: 0,
+    pushes: [],
+    replacements: [],
+    scrolls: [],
+    focused: [],
+    runtime: undefined as never,
+    runFrame(nextScrollY) {
+      if (nextScrollY !== undefined) harness.scrollY = nextScrollY;
+      const entry = frames.entries().next().value as
+        [number, FrameRequestCallback] | undefined;
+      if (entry === undefined) throw new Error("No pending animation frame");
+      frames.delete(entry[0]);
+      entry[1](0);
+    },
+    runTimer(delay) {
+      const entry = [...timers.entries()].find(
+        ([, timer]) => timer.delay === delay,
+      );
+      if (entry === undefined) throw new Error(`No pending ${delay} ms timer`);
+      timers.delete(entry[0]);
+      entry[1].callback();
+    },
+    emitScrollEnd() {
+      for (const listener of [...scrollEndListeners])
+        listener(new Event("scrollend"));
+    },
+  };
+  harness.runtime = {
+    getHash: () => harness.hash,
+    pushHash: (hash) => {
+      harness.pushes.push(hash);
+      harness.hash = hash;
+    },
+    replaceHash: (hash) => {
+      harness.replacements.push(hash);
+      harness.hash = hash;
+    },
+    scrollTarget: (target, behavior) =>
+      harness.scrolls.push({ id: target.id, behavior }),
+    focusHeading: (target) => harness.focused.push(target.id),
+    getScrollY: () => harness.scrollY,
+    requestFrame: (callback) => {
+      const id = nextId++;
+      frames.set(id, callback);
+      return id;
+    },
+    cancelFrame: (id) => frames.delete(id),
+    setTimer: (callback, delay) => {
+      const id = nextId++;
+      timers.set(id, { callback, delay });
+      return id;
+    },
+    clearTimer: (id) => timers.delete(id),
+    supportsScrollEnd,
+    addScrollEndListener: (listener) => scrollEndListeners.add(listener),
+    removeScrollEndListener: (listener) => scrollEndListeners.delete(listener),
+  };
+  return harness;
+};
+
+const target = (id: SectionId): HTMLElement => {
+  const section = document.createElement("section");
+  section.id = id;
+  const heading = document.createElement("h2");
+  heading.tabIndex = -1;
+  section.append(heading);
+  return section;
+};
+
+describe("canonical fragment validation", () => {
+  it("recognizes every specified keyboard scroll intent and no activation key", () => {
+    for (const key of [
+      "PageUp",
+      "PageDown",
+      "Home",
+      "End",
+      " ",
+      "Spacebar",
+      "ArrowUp",
+      "ArrowDown",
+      "ArrowLeft",
+      "ArrowRight",
+    ]) {
+      expect(isScrollIntentKey(key)).toBe(true);
+    }
+    expect(isScrollIntentKey("Enter")).toBe(false);
+    expect(isScrollIntentKey("Tab")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("decodes exact canonical IDs and treats an empty fragment as Start", () => {
+    expect(canonicalSectionIdFromHash("", sectionIds)).toBe("start");
+    expect(canonicalSectionIdFromHash("#selected%2Dbuilds", sectionIds)).toBe(
+      "selected-builds",
+    );
+    expect(canonicalSectionIdFromHash("#unknown", sectionIds)).toBeNull();
+    expect(canonicalSectionIdFromHash("#%E0%A4%A", sectionIds)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("validates a same-document native href and its exact target before interception", () => {
+    const anchor = document.createElement("a");
+    anchor.href = "#profile";
+    document.body.append(target("profile"), anchor);
+
+    expect(validateSectionAnchor(anchor, sectionIds)).toEqual({
+      id: "profile",
+      target: document.getElementById("profile"),
+    });
+
+    anchor.href = "https://example.com/#profile";
+    expect(validateSectionAnchor(anchor, sectionIds)).toBeNull();
+    anchor.href = "#unknown";
+    expect(validateSectionAnchor(anchor, sectionIds)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("navigation epochs and effects", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    document.body.replaceChildren();
+  });
+
+  it("pushes exactly once for a different fragment and zero times for the current fragment", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+
+    expect(controller.navigate("profile", target("profile"))).toBe(1);
+    expect(harness.pushes).toEqual(["#profile"]);
+    expect(harness.scrolls).toEqual([{ id: "profile", behavior: "smooth" }]);
+
+    expect(controller.navigate("profile", target("profile"))).toBe(2);
+    expect(harness.pushes).toEqual(["#profile"]);
+    expect(harness.scrolls).toEqual([
+      { id: "profile", behavior: "smooth" },
+      { id: "profile", behavior: "smooth" },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("increments epochs and cancels older focus work on user scroll intent", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+    controller.navigate("profile", target("profile"));
+
+    expect(controller.noteUserScrollIntent()).toBe(2);
+    harness.emitScrollEnd();
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual([]);
+    expect(controller.state()).toEqual({
+      epoch: 2,
+      source: "passive-scroll",
+      destinationId: null,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("uses native scrollend and focuses on the next frame only for the current explicit epoch", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+    controller.navigate("experience", target("experience"));
+
+    harness.emitScrollEnd();
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual([]);
+    harness.runFrame();
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual(["experience"]);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to three consecutive sub-pixel-stable animation frames", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(false);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+    controller.navigate("toolkit", target("toolkit"));
+
+    harness.runFrame(20);
+    harness.runFrame(20.5);
+    harness.runFrame(21.4);
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual([]);
+    harness.runFrame(21.9);
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual([]);
+    harness.runFrame();
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual(["toolkit"]);
+  });
+
+  it("performs one instant final alignment after 1500 ms before focusing", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+    controller.navigate("contact", target("contact"));
+
+    harness.runTimer(1500);
+    expect(harness.scrolls).toEqual([
+      { id: "contact", behavior: "smooth" },
+      { id: "contact", behavior: "instant" },
+    ]);
+    harness.runFrame();
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual(["contact"]);
+  });
+
+  it("replaces one stable passive fragment after 150 ms and cancels stale replacements", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+    controller.noteUserScrollIntent();
+    controller.notePassiveSection("profile");
+    controller.notePassiveSection("experience");
+
+    harness.runTimer(150);
+    expect(harness.replacements).toEqual(["#experience"]);
+
+    controller.notePassiveSection("toolkit");
+    controller.noteUserScrollIntent();
+    expect(() => harness.runTimer(150)).toThrow("No pending 150 ms timer");
+    expect(harness.replacements).toEqual(["#experience"]);
+  });
+
+  it("restores initial and history fragments without history mutation or focus", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+
+    expect(controller.initialize("toolkit", target("toolkit"))).toBe(1);
+    expect(controller.restore("profile", target("profile"))).toBe(2);
+    harness.runFrame();
+    expect(harness.pushes).toEqual([]);
+    expect(harness.replacements).toEqual([]);
+    expect(harness.scrolls).toEqual([
+      { id: "toolkit", behavior: "instant" },
+      { id: "profile", behavior: "instant" },
+    ]);
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual([]);
+    expect(controller.state()).toEqual({
+      epoch: 2,
+      source: "history-restoration",
+      destinationId: "profile",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("cancels an older deferred restoration during rapid back and forward", () => {
+    const harness = createRuntime(true);
+    const controller = createNavigationController(sectionIds, harness.runtime);
+
+    controller.restore("profile", target("profile"));
+    controller.restore("experience", target("experience"));
+    expect(harness.scrolls).toEqual([]);
+    harness.runFrame();
+    expect(harness.scrolls).toEqual([
+      { id: "experience", behavior: "instant" },
+    ]);
+    expect(harness.focused).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/section-controller.test.ts b/tests/unit/section-controller.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03bd658
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/section-controller.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  activationLineDocumentY,
+  deriveSectionState,
+  isAtDocumentEnd,
+  selectActiveSection,
+  type SectionHeadingGeometry,
+} from "@/journey/section-controller";
+
+const headings: readonly SectionHeadingGeometry[] = [
+  { id: "start", top: 100 },
+  { id: "profile", top: 350 },
+  { id: "experience", top: 700 },
+  { id: "infrastructure", top: 1100 },
+  { id: "selected-builds", top: 1500 },
+  { id: "additional-work", top: 1900 },
+  { id: "toolkit", top: 2300 },
+  { id: "contact", top: 2700 },
+];
+
+describe("active section selection", () => {
+  it("places the activation line at a literal 35 percent of the visual viewport", () => {
+    expect(
+      activationLineDocumentY({
+        scrollY: 200,
+        visualViewportOffsetTop: 25,
+        visualViewportHeight: 1000,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(575);
+  });
+
+  it("forces document end within exactly two CSS pixels using current geometry", () => {
+    expect(
+      isAtDocumentEnd({
+        scrollY: 498,
+        scrollHeight: 1000,
+        visualViewportHeight: 500,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      isAtDocumentEnd({
+        scrollY: 497.999,
+        scrollHeight: 1000,
+        visualViewportHeight: 500,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      isAtDocumentEnd({
+        scrollY: 498,
+        scrollHeight: 1200,
+        visualViewportHeight: 500,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps the first section before any heading reaches the activation line", () => {
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({ headings, activationY: 99, atDocumentEnd: false }),
+    ).toBe("start");
+  });
+
+  it("selects the last heading at or above the literal 35 percent activation line", () => {
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({
+        headings,
+        activationY: 699.999,
+        atDocumentEnd: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("profile");
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({ headings, activationY: 700, atDocumentEnd: false }),
+    ).toBe("experience");
+  });
+
+  it("lets later document order win when heading positions are identical", () => {
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({
+        headings: [
+          { id: "start", top: 0 },
+          { id: "profile", top: 350 },
+          { id: "experience", top: 350 },
+        ],
+        activationY: 350,
+        atDocumentEnd: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("experience");
+  });
+
+  it("forces the final canonical section at document end", () => {
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({ headings, activationY: 1400, atDocumentEnd: true }),
+    ).toBe("contact");
+  });
+
+  it("uses fresh late-growth geometry on every selection", () => {
+    const grown = headings.map((heading) =>
+      heading.id === "experience" ? { ...heading, top: 900 } : heading,
+    );
+
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({ headings, activationY: 750, atDocumentEnd: false }),
+    ).toBe("experience");
+    expect(
+      selectActiveSection({
+        headings: grown,
+        activationY: 750,
+        atDocumentEnd: false,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("profile");
+  });
+
+  it("maps every canonical section to its chapter and arrival state", () => {
+    expect([
+      deriveSectionState("start"),
+      deriveSectionState("profile"),
+      deriveSectionState("experience"),
+      deriveSectionState("infrastructure"),
+      deriveSectionState("selected-builds"),
+      deriveSectionState("additional-work"),
+      deriveSectionState("toolkit"),
+      deriveSectionState("contact"),
+    ]).toEqual([
+      { activeSectionId: "start", chapter: "deep-night", arrived: false },
+      { activeSectionId: "profile", chapter: "deep-night", arrived: false },
+      { activeSectionId: "experience", chapter: "systems", arrived: false },
+      {
+        activeSectionId: "infrastructure",
+        chapter: "infrastructure",
+        arrived: false,
+      },
+      { activeSectionId: "selected-builds", chapter: "builds", arrived: false },
+      { activeSectionId: "additional-work", chapter: "builds", arrived: false },
+      { activeSectionId: "toolkit", chapter: "pre-dawn", arrived: false },
+      { activeSectionId: "contact", chapter: "destination", arrived: true },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts b/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a2351f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/sign-controller.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { nextSign } from "@/journey/sign-controller";
+import type { SignSnapshot } from "@/journey/types";
+
+const passiveSample = (
+  distanceVh: number,
+  overrides: Partial<Parameters<typeof nextSign>[1]> = {},
+): Parameters<typeof nextSign>[1] => ({
+  source: "passive-scroll",
+  deltaY: 10,
+  viewportHeight: 100,
+  crossedBoundaries: 0,
+  candidateId: "profile",
+  distanceVh,
+  motionAllowed: true,
+  ...overrides,
+});
+
+describe("forward-only sign latching", () => {
+  it("latches a first eligible candidate at the exact approach boundary", () => {
+    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(1.2))).toEqual({
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "approach",
+      progress: 0,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("maps the literal approach and pass ranges independently", () => {
+    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(0.875))).toEqual({
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "approach",
+      progress: expect.closeTo(0.5, 14),
+    });
+    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(-0.05))).toEqual({
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "pass",
+      progress: 0.5,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("uses exact stabilized, pass, and completion boundaries", () => {
+    const latched: SignSnapshot = {
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "approach",
+      progress: 0,
+    };
+
+    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.55))).toEqual({
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "stabilized",
+      progress: 1,
+    });
+    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.15))).toEqual({
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "pass",
+      progress: 0,
+    });
+    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(-0.25))).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("retains the one latched target while the semantic section advances", () => {
+    const latched: SignSnapshot = {
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "stabilized",
+      progress: 1,
+    };
+
+    expect(
+      nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.1, { candidateId: "experience" })),
+    ).toEqual({
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "pass",
+      progress: expect.closeTo(0.125, 14),
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ["reverse input", { deltaY: -2 }],
+    ["zero-direction input", { deltaY: 0 }],
+    ["explicit navigation", { source: "explicit-navigation" as const }],
+    ["history restoration", { source: "history-restoration" as const }],
+    ["initial positioning", { source: "initial" as const }],
+    ["more than one activation boundary", { crossedBoundaries: 2 }],
+    ["a jump over 0.75 viewport heights", { deltaY: 76 }],
+    ["disabled motion", { motionAllowed: false }],
+  ])("clears or suppresses signs for %s", (_label, overrides) => {
+    const latched: SignSnapshot = {
+      targetId: "profile",
+      phase: "approach",
+      progress: 0.5,
+    };
+    expect(nextSign(latched, passiveSample(0.5, overrides))).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("does not latch before visibility or after a jump directly past completion", () => {
+    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(1.20001))).toBeNull();
+    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(-0.25))).toBeNull();
+    expect(nextSign(null, passiveSample(-1))).toBeNull();
+  });
+});