diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ce9fed3..6235b6a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ the inherited Theme/default style available. Button has the deliberately small
 set, not a second widget taxonomy.
 
 Enabled buttons and checkboxes expose the same interaction affordances: a hand
-pointer, `mouse-face` hover feedback, a readable `help-echo`, a numeric tab
-stop, and a semantic role. Button presses briefly enter a `pressed` visual
-state. Disabled controls retain their text and disabled appearance but expose
+pointer, native `mouse-face` hover feedback, a readable `help-echo`, a numeric
+tab stop, and a semantic role. Hover ends when the pointer leaves; activation
+does not create retained visual state. Disabled controls retain their text and disabled appearance but expose
 no callback, pointer activation, or tab stop. The Runtime owns composition of
 an explicit `:on-*` callback with a Behavior callback; the UI package only
 declares the control and its visual state.
@@ -69,9 +69,12 @@ have no callback or tab stop. `:row-key` remains a required non-nil stable
 scalar identity for retained rows. DataGrid retains one action closure per
 row key, so selection or data Range updates do not recreate handlers for
 unchanged rows.
+An integer column `:width` is readable character capacity, not a raw pixel
+value. DataGrid passes Ebox's native character unit through and reserves one
+native character between non-final tracks.
 
 `etaf-pagination` is a controlled Data Component. It accepts a Data controller
-plus stable `:previous-ref` and `:next-ref` values, renders readable `‹`/`›`
+plus stable `:previous-ref` and `:next-ref` values, renders readable `←`/`→`
 controls and a `Page N / M` summary, and disables the boundary action while a
 page is loading or already at the first/last page. It owns no page state and
 uses the same Button interaction contract.
diff --git a/README.zh-CN.md b/README.zh-CN.md
index 97324cd..8e21074 100644
--- a/README.zh-CN.md
+++ b/README.zh-CN.md
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ Component 的 `:styles` 声明负责默认外观。调用者提供的非 nil pre
 只提供刻意收敛的 `primary`、`secondary`、`ghost` 三种视觉 variant；这是
 视觉状态集合，不是第二套 widget 分类体系。
 
-启用的 button 和 checkbox 共享同一套交互反馈：小手指针、`mouse-face` 悬停
-反馈、可读的 `help-echo`、数字 tab stop 和语义 role。Button 按下时短暂进入
-`pressed` 外观。禁用控件保留文字和禁用样式，但没有回调、指针激活或 tab stop。
+启用的 button 和 checkbox 共享同一套交互反馈：小手指针、原生 `mouse-face`
+悬停反馈、可读的 `help-echo`、数字 tab stop 和语义 role。指针离开后 hover
+自动结束，点击不会产生 retained 视觉状态。禁用控件保留文字和禁用样式，但
+没有回调、指针激活或 tab stop。
 显式 `:on-*` 回调和 Behavior 回调的组合由 Runtime 负责；UI 包只声明控件和
 视觉状态。
 
@@ -59,9 +60,11 @@ DataGrid 支持列描述、函数型 `:row-key`，以及可选的
 行没有回调或 tab stop。`:row-key` 仍然是 retained row 必须具备的非 nil
 稳定标量 identity。DataGrid 按 row key 保留唯一 action closure，因此 selection
 或 Data Range 更新不会为未变化的行重建 handler。
+整数列 `:width` 表示可读字符容量，不是裸像素；DataGrid 原样使用 Ebox 原生字符单位，
+并在非末列之间保留一个原生字符间距。
 
 `etaf-pagination` 是受控 Data Component。它接收 Data controller 以及稳定的
-`:previous-ref`、`:next-ref`，显示易读的 `‹`/`›` 控件和 `Page N / M` 摘要；
+`:previous-ref`、`:next-ref`，显示易读的 `←`/`→` 控件和 `Page N / M` 摘要；
 加载中或已经位于首/末页时会禁用对应动作。它不拥有页码状态，并复用 Button
 的交互契约。
 
diff --git a/etaf-ui.el b/etaf-ui.el
index a2ebf46..34c34ec 100644
--- a/etaf-ui.el
+++ b/etaf-ui.el
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 (declare-function text "etaf-view" (&rest arguments))
 (declare-function row "etaf-view" (&rest arguments))
 (declare-function column "etaf-view" (&rest arguments))
+(declare-function flex "etaf-view" (&rest arguments))
 (declare-function expr "etaf-view" (&rest arguments))
 (declare-function slot "etaf-view" (&rest arguments))
 
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ the optional text properties and keep the semantic role/event contract."
 
 (defun etaf-ui--button-view
     (label on-press disabled ref class color bgcolor border padding face
-           tab-index aria-label use pressed)
+           tab-index aria-label use)
   "Return a Button Host showing LABEL.
 
 ON-PRESS and USE provide callbacks and Behaviors.  DISABLED controls whether
@@ -65,9 +66,7 @@ the Host is interactive.  REF, CLASS, COLOR, BGCOLOR, BORDER, PADDING, FACE,
 TAB-INDEX, and ARIA-LABEL provide Host identity and presentation."
   (let ((class-value (etaf-ui--class-value
                       "etaf-button"
-                      (cond (disabled "disabled")
-                            (pressed "pressed")
-                            (t "enabled"))
+                      (if disabled "disabled" "enabled")
                       class))
         (tab-value (unless disabled (or tab-index 0)))
         (label-value (or aria-label label))
@@ -106,49 +105,64 @@ TAB-INDEX, and ARIA-LABEL provide Host identity and presentation."
    ((listp row) (alist-get key row))
    (t nil)))
 
+(defun etaf-ui--grid-fit-text (value column)
+  "Return VALUE fitted to COLUMN's declared character capacity."
+  (let* ((value (format "%s" (or value "")))
+         (width (etaf-ui--column-value column :width)))
+    (if (and (integerp width) (> width 0)
+             (> (string-width value) width))
+        (truncate-string-to-width value width 0 nil "…")
+      value)))
+
 (defun etaf-ui--grid-display-value (row column)
   "Return one single-line display value for ROW and COLUMN.
 
 DataGrid columns are tabular tracks, not prose paragraphs.  Keep each cell on
 one visual line and use an ellipsis when a fixed character-width descriptor is
 too small; the original ROW remains intact for selection and callbacks."
-  (let* ((value (format "%s"
-                       (or (etaf-ui--grid-cell-value
-                            row (etaf-ui--column-value column :key)) "")))
-         (width (etaf-ui--column-value column :width)))
-    (if (and (integerp width) (> width 1)
-             (> (string-width value) width))
-        ;; Leave one character of the declared track for inter-column air;
-        ;; Ebox's left justification fills that remainder without changing
-        ;; the stable column geometry.
-        (truncate-string-to-width value (1- width) 0 nil "…")
-      value)))
+  (etaf-ui--grid-fit-text
+   (etaf-ui--grid-cell-value row (etaf-ui--column-value column :key))
+   column))
 
-(defun etaf-ui--grid-header-cell (column)
-  "Return one header View for COLUMN."
+(defun etaf-ui--grid-track-width (column gap-p)
+  "Return COLUMN width with one native-character gap when GAP-P is non-nil."
+  (let ((width (etaf-ui--column-value column :width)))
+    (if (and gap-p (integerp width) (> width 0))
+        (1+ width)
+      width)))
+
+(defun etaf-ui--grid-header-cell (column gap-p)
+  "Return one header View for COLUMN, adding air when GAP-P is non-nil."
   (etaf-view
    (text :class "etaf-data-grid-header-cell"
-         :width (etaf-ui--column-value column :width)
-         (expr :value (format "%s"
-                             (or (etaf-ui--column-value column :label)
-                                 (etaf-ui--column-value column :key)))))))
+         :width (etaf-ui--grid-track-width column gap-p)
+         (expr :value
+               (etaf-ui--grid-fit-text
+                (or (etaf-ui--column-value column :label)
+                    (etaf-ui--column-value column :key))
+                column)))))
 
 (defun etaf-ui--grid-header (columns)
   "Return a View header row for COLUMNS."
   (etaf-view
-   (row
-    :class "etaf-data-grid-header"
-    (expr :value (mapcar #'etaf-ui--grid-header-cell columns)))))
+   (row :class "etaf-data-grid-header"
+    (expr :value
+          (cl-loop for column in columns
+                   for tail on columns
+                   collect (etaf-ui--grid-header-cell
+                            column (cdr tail)))))))
 
-(defun etaf-ui--grid-cell (row column)
-  "Return one data cell View for ROW and COLUMN."
+(defun etaf-ui--grid-cell (row column gap-p)
+  "Return one data cell View for ROW and COLUMN, using GAP-P for air."
   (etaf-view
-   (text :width (etaf-ui--column-value column :width)
+   (text :width (etaf-ui--grid-track-width column gap-p)
          (expr :value (etaf-ui--grid-display-value row column)))))
 
 (defun etaf-ui--grid-cells (row columns)
   "Return data cell Views for ROW and COLUMNS."
-  (mapcar (lambda (column) (etaf-ui--grid-cell row column)) columns))
+  (cl-loop for column in columns
+           for tail on columns
+           collect (etaf-ui--grid-cell row column (cdr tail))))
 
 (defun etaf-ui--grid-selected-p (row key selected-key row-selected-p)
   "Return whether ROW with KEY matches SELECTED-KEY or ROW-SELECTED-P."
@@ -192,10 +206,9 @@ owns stable keyed callbacks across Range reevaluation."
       (unless host-ref
         (error "ETAF DataGrid :row-ref must return a non-nil stable ref")))
     (etaf-view
-     (row
-      :key key
-      :class (concat "etaf-data-grid-row"
-                     (if selected-p " selected" ""))
+     (row :key key
+          :class (concat "etaf-data-grid-row"
+                         (if selected-p " selected" ""))
       :ref host-ref
       :role (when interactive-p 'button)
       :tab-index (when interactive-p 0)
@@ -230,31 +243,14 @@ SELECTED-KEY, and ROW-SELECTED-P provide interaction state."
 
 (defun etaf-ui--button-setup ()
   "Create the retained renderer for one Button instance."
-  (let* ((pressed (etaf-ref nil))
-         (timer nil)
-         (scope (etaf-current-effect-scope))
-         (current-callback nil)
+  (let* ((current-callback nil)
          (current-press-p nil)
          (press nil))
     (setq press
           (lambda ()
             (when current-press-p
-              (when (timerp timer)
-                (cancel-timer timer))
-              (setf (etaf-value pressed) t)
-              (unwind-protect
-                  (when current-callback
-                    (funcall current-callback))
-                (setq timer
-                      (run-at-time
-                       0.09 nil
-                       (lambda ()
-                         (when (etaf-effect-scope-active-p scope)
-                           (setf (etaf-value pressed) nil)))))))))
-    (etaf-on-unmounted
-     (lambda ()
-       (when (timerp timer)
-         (cancel-timer timer))))
+              (when current-callback
+                (funcall current-callback)))))
     (lambda ()
       (let* ((label (etaf-current-prop :label))
              (callback (etaf-current-prop :on-press))
@@ -263,41 +259,27 @@ SELECTED-KEY, and ROW-SELECTED-P provide interaction state."
              (press-p (and (not disabled) (or callback use))))
         (setq current-callback callback
               current-press-p press-p)
-        (let* ((state-pressed (and (not disabled) (etaf-value pressed)))
-               (state-class (cond (disabled "disabled")
-                                  (state-pressed "pressed")
-                                  (t "enabled")))
-               (variant (and (not disabled) (etaf-current-prop :variant)))
+        (let* ((variant (and (not disabled) (etaf-current-prop :variant)))
                (variant-values
                 (cond
                  (disabled
                   '(:color "#687386" :bgcolor "#E5E7EB"
                     :border ((1) solid "#9CA3AF") :face normal))
-                 ((and (eq variant 'secondary) state-pressed)
-                  '(:color "#142235" :bgcolor "#B9DED7"
-                    :border ((1) solid "#24736C") :face bold))
                  ((eq variant 'secondary)
                   '(:color "#142235" :bgcolor "#D9EEEA"
                     :border ((1) solid "#2E8B83") :face bold))
-                 ((and (eq variant 'ghost) state-pressed)
-                  '(:color "#142235" :bgcolor "#EEEAE2"
-                    :border ((1) solid "#A79F93") :face normal))
                  ((eq variant 'ghost)
                   '(:color "#142235" :bgcolor "#FFFDF8"
                     :border ((1) solid "#C8C1B6") :face normal))
-                 ;; The enabled/pressed catalog defaults used to come from
-                 ;; state selectors alone.  Resolve them as props too so an
+                 ;; The enabled catalog defaults used to come from state
+                 ;; selectors alone.  Resolve them as props too so an
                  ;; explicit theme can override the same state boundary.
-                 (state-pressed
-                  '(:color "#FFFFFF" :bgcolor "#1E5A56"
-                    :border ((1) solid "#174A47") :face bold))
                  (t
                   '(:color "#FFFFFF" :bgcolor "#2F6B43"
                     :border ((1) solid "#2F6B43") :face bold)))))
           (etaf-ui--button-view
            label (and press-p press) disabled (etaf-current-prop :ref)
-           (let ((custom-class (etaf-current-prop :class)))
-             (delq nil (list custom-class state-class)))
+           (etaf-current-prop :class)
            (or (etaf-current-prop :color)
                (plist-get variant-values :color))
            (or (etaf-current-prop :bgcolor)
@@ -309,7 +291,7 @@ SELECTED-KEY, and ROW-SELECTED-P provide interaction state."
                (plist-get variant-values :face))
            (etaf-current-prop :tab-index)
            (etaf-current-prop :aria-label)
-           use state-pressed))))))
+           use))))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (etaf-define-component etaf-button
@@ -327,8 +309,7 @@ contract; callers can still override presentation with the ordinary props."
    ;; above remain authoritative, so a themed disabled Button cannot inherit
    ;; the catalog's light default surface.
    ("&.disabled" :padding (0 1) :face normal)
-   ("&.enabled" :padding (0 1) :face bold)
-   ("&.pressed" :padding (0 1) :face bold))
+   ("&.enabled" :padding (0 1) :face bold))
   :setup
   (etaf-ui--button-setup))
 
@@ -505,7 +486,7 @@ a stable Host reference."
 The pager owns no data state: page, page-size, total, loading, and error stay
 with CONTROLLER.  PREVIOUS-REF and NEXT-REF should be stable public refs when
 the pager participates in keyboard/mouse interaction.  The visible glyphs
-(`‹' and `›') are paired with labels and help text so the compact control is
+(`←' and `→') are paired with labels and help text so the compact control is
 readable in both GUI and text review."
   :styles
   (styles
@@ -538,39 +519,47 @@ readable in both GUI and text review."
              (arrow-border '((0) solid "transparent")))
         (setq current-controller controller-value)
         (etaf-view
-         (row :class (etaf-ui--class-value "etaf-pagination" nil
-                                           (etaf-current-prop :class))
-              :role 'navigation
-              :aria-label (or (etaf-current-prop :aria-label) "Pagination")
-              :color parent-color
-              :bgcolor parent-bgcolor
-              :border (etaf-current-prop :border)
-              :padding (or (etaf-current-prop :padding) '(0 1))
-              :gap '(0 (2))
-          (button :label "‹" :ref (etaf-current-prop :previous-ref)
-                  :aria-label "Previous page"
-                  :disabled previous-disabled
-                  :padding '(0 0)
-                  :border arrow-border
-                  :color (if previous-disabled "#9CA3AF" parent-color)
-                  :bgcolor parent-bgcolor
-                  :face 'bold
-                  :on-press (unless previous-disabled previous))
+         (flex :class (etaf-ui--class-value "etaf-pagination" nil
+                                            (etaf-current-prop :class))
+               :width 'stretch
+               :flex-direction 'row
+               :align-items 'center
+               :role 'navigation
+               :aria-label (or (etaf-current-prop :aria-label) "Pagination")
+               :color parent-color
+               :bgcolor parent-bgcolor
+               :border (etaf-current-prop :border)
+               :box-sizing 'border-box
+               :padding (or (etaf-current-prop :padding) '(0 1))
+               :gap '(0 (1))
+          (column :width 'max-content
+                  :flex-grow 0 :flex-shrink 0 :flex-basis 'auto
+           (button :label "←" :ref (etaf-current-prop :previous-ref)
+                   :aria-label "Previous page"
+                   :disabled previous-disabled
+                   :padding '(0 0)
+                   :border arrow-border
+                   :color (if previous-disabled "#9CA3AF" parent-color)
+                   :bgcolor parent-bgcolor
+                   :face 'bold
+                   :on-press (unless previous-disabled previous)))
           (column :flex-grow 1 :flex-shrink 1 :flex-basis '(0) :min-width 0
            (text :class "etaf-pagination-label" :text-align 'center
                  (expr :value (format "Page %d / %d" page pages)))
            (text :class "etaf-pagination-summary" :text-align 'center
                  (expr :value (format "%d–%d of %d"
                                       first-item last-item total))))
-          (button :label "›" :ref (etaf-current-prop :next-ref)
-                  :aria-label "Next page"
-                  :disabled next-disabled
-                  :padding '(0 0)
-                  :border arrow-border
-                  :color (if next-disabled "#9CA3AF" parent-color)
-                  :bgcolor parent-bgcolor
-                  :face 'bold
-                  :on-press (unless next-disabled next))))))))
+          (column :width 'max-content
+                  :flex-grow 0 :flex-shrink 0 :flex-basis 'auto
+           (button :label "→" :ref (etaf-current-prop :next-ref)
+                   :aria-label "Next page"
+                   :disabled next-disabled
+                   :padding '(0 0)
+                   :border arrow-border
+                   :color (if next-disabled "#9CA3AF" parent-color)
+                   :bgcolor parent-bgcolor
+                   :face 'bold
+                   :on-press (unless next-disabled next)))))))))
 
 (provide 'etaf-ui)
 
diff --git a/tests/etaf-ui-tests.el b/tests/etaf-ui-tests.el
index fa5e696..9ef8cfb 100644
--- a/tests/etaf-ui-tests.el
+++ b/tests/etaf-ui-tests.el
@@ -210,8 +210,8 @@
       (when-let ((buffer (get-buffer buffer-name)))
         (kill-buffer buffer))))))
 
-(ert-deftest etaf-ui-button-owns-pointer-hover-and-pressed-feedback ()
-  "Buttons expose native pointer/hover affordances and a pressed state."
+(ert-deftest etaf-ui-button-owns-native-hover-and-dispatch ()
+  "Buttons expose native hover affordances without retained press state."
   (let ((buffer-name " *etaf-ui-button-surface-test*")
         (presses 0))
     (unwind-protect
@@ -237,9 +237,13 @@
                                'health 'press)
           (should (= presses 1))
           (should (string-match-p
-                   "pressed"
+                   "enabled"
                    (plist-get (etaf-ui-test--props buffer-name 'health)
                               :class)))
+          (should-not (string-match-p
+                       "pressed"
+                       (plist-get (etaf-ui-test--props buffer-name 'health)
+                                  :class)))
             (should (eq before
                         (cdr (assq 'press
                                    (etaf-runtime-handler-for runtime 'health)))))))
@@ -381,8 +385,10 @@
             (should (equal (plist-get first :tab-index) 0))
             (should (equal (plist-get second :role) 'button))
             (should (equal (plist-get second :tab-index) 0))
-            (should (string-match-p "selected" (plist-get second :class)))
-            (should-not (string-match-p "selected" (plist-get first :class))))
+            (should (string-match-p
+                     "selected" (or (plist-get second :class) "")))
+            (should-not (string-match-p
+                         "selected" (or (plist-get first :class) ""))))
           (let* ((runtime (etaf-runtime-for-buffer buffer-name))
                  (handler (cdr (assq 'press
                                      (etaf-runtime-handler-for runtime
@@ -419,8 +425,8 @@
                         :previous-ref 'page-previous
                         :next-ref 'page-next)))
           (should (string-match-p "Page 1 / 3" (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name)))
-          (should (string-match-p "‹" (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name)))
-          (should (string-match-p "›" (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name)))
+          (should (string-match-p "←" (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name)))
+          (should (string-match-p "→" (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name)))
           ;; Live Ebox windows reserve two pixels for the exclusive display
           ;; boundary; the pager must stay inside the corresponding 360px row.
           (ebox-surface-update-buffer-viewport (get-buffer buffer-name) 358 20)
@@ -451,6 +457,40 @@
       (when-let ((buffer (get-buffer buffer-name)))
         (kill-buffer buffer)))))
 
+(ert-deftest etaf-ui-pagination-composes-inside-a-grid-track ()
+  "Pagination must distribute free space inside its assigned Grid track."
+  (let* ((source (etaf-data-memory-source
+                  '((:id 1) (:id 2) (:id 3) (:id 4) (:id 5))
+                  :id-key :id))
+         (controller (etaf-data-controller source :page-size 2 :auto-load t))
+         (buffer-name " *etaf-ui-pagination-grid-test*"))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (etaf-mount
+           buffer-name
+           (etaf-view
+            (grid :width '(360)
+                  :grid-template-columns '((80) (200) (80))
+             (text "Left")
+             (column :width 'stretch :padding '(0 2) :border "#CBD5E1"
+              (pagination :controller controller
+                          :previous-ref 'nested-page-previous
+                          :next-ref 'nested-page-next))
+             (text "Right"))))
+          (with-current-buffer buffer-name
+            (goto-char (point-min))
+            (while (< (point) (point-max))
+              (should (<= (ebox-string-pixel-width
+                           (buffer-substring (line-beginning-position)
+                                             (line-end-position)))
+                          360))
+              (forward-line 1))))
+      (when-let ((runtime (etaf-runtime-for-buffer buffer-name)))
+        (etaf-unmount runtime))
+      (etaf-data-stop controller)
+      (when-let ((buffer (get-buffer buffer-name)))
+        (kill-buffer buffer)))))
+
 (ert-deftest etaf-ui-data-grid-keeps-long-cells-on-one-line ()
   "Long tabular values use an ellipsis instead of increasing row height."
   (let* ((source (etaf-data-memory-source
@@ -468,7 +508,7 @@
              :columns '((:key :title :label "Title" :width 22))
              :row-key (lambda (row) (plist-get row :id)))))
           (let ((text (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name)))
-            (should (string-match-p "The Cathedral and th…" text))
+            (should (string-match-p "The Cathedral and the…" text))
             (should-not (string-match-p "The Cathedral and the Bazaar" text))))
       (when-let ((runtime (etaf-runtime-for-buffer buffer-name)))
         (etaf-unmount runtime))
@@ -476,6 +516,30 @@
       (when-let ((buffer (get-buffer buffer-name)))
         (kill-buffer buffer)))))
 
+(ert-deftest etaf-ui-data-grid-converts-character-columns-and-keeps-air ()
+  "Character column descriptors become pixel widths with a stable gap."
+  (let* ((source (etaf-data-memory-source
+                  '((:id 1 :progress 64 :kind "Essay")) :id-key :id))
+         (controller (etaf-data-controller source :auto-load t))
+         (buffer-name " *etaf-ui-grid-column-unit-test*"))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (etaf-mount
+           buffer-name
+           (etaf-view
+            (data-grid
+             :controller controller
+             :columns '((:key :progress :label "Progress" :width 8)
+                        (:key :kind :label "Kind" :width 7))
+             :row-key (lambda (row) (plist-get row :id)))))
+          (should (string-match-p "Progress[[:space:]]+Kind"
+                                  (etaf-ui-test--text buffer-name))))
+      (when-let ((runtime (etaf-runtime-for-buffer buffer-name)))
+        (etaf-unmount runtime))
+      (etaf-data-stop controller)
+      (when-let ((buffer (get-buffer buffer-name)))
+        (kill-buffer buffer)))))
+
 (ert-deftest etaf-ui-data-grid-noninteractive-rows-have-no-focus-contract ()
   "Rows without ON-ROW-PRESS have no role, ref callback, or tab stop."
   (let* ((source (etaf-data-memory-source '((:id 1 :name "Ada"))