diff --git a/agent/review_engine.py b/agent/review_engine.py
index 5e8430901a..dd2dddf8b8 100644
--- a/agent/review_engine.py
+++ b/agent/review_engine.py
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ _REVIEW_GOAL = (
     "from the excerpt alone. Produce a full, structured review: what "
     "the work does, whether it is correct and complete, concrete "
     "defects or risks found (with file/line references where possible), "
-    "what was verified vs. only read, and a clear final verdict with "
-    "recommended next steps."
+    "what was verified vs. only read, and a clear final verdict with recommended next steps."
 )
 
 
@@ -232,8 +231,7 @@ def format_dispatch_note(result: Dict[str, Any], user_prompt: str = "") -> str:
         return (
             f"⚖ Review subagent dispatched{model_note}{focus_note} — it is "
             f"investigating the last {DEFAULT_CONTEXT_MESSAGES} messages in "
-            f"the background and its full review will re-enter this "
-            f"conversation when it finishes."
+            f"the background and its full review will re-enter this conversation when it finishes."
         )
     # Synchronous fallback (channels that cannot route async completions).
     return (
diff --git a/agent/side_question.py b/agent/side_question.py
index 5a6c890fbe..6dd54eb4d2 100644
--- a/agent/side_question.py
+++ b/agent/side_question.py
@@ -26,29 +26,21 @@ _PER_MESSAGE_CHAR_CAP = 2000
 _TRANSCRIPT_CHAR_BUDGET = 24000
 
 _FORK_PROMPT = (
-    "The user asked a quick SIDE question with /btw while the main work "
-    "continues in the original session.\n"
-    "Rules:\n"
+    "The user asked a quick SIDE question with /btw while the main work continues in the original session.\nRules:\n"
     "- Answer ONLY the side question, using the conversation above as "
     "context. Do not continue, redo, or critique the main task.\n"
-    "- Do NOT call any tools — they are disabled for this side question. "
-    "Answer directly in text.\n"
-    "- If the conversation does not contain enough information to answer, "
-    "say so plainly instead of guessing.\n"
+    "- Do NOT call any tools — they are disabled for this side question. Answer directly in text.\n"
+    "- If the conversation does not contain enough information to answer, say so plainly instead of guessing.\n"
     "- Be concise and direct."
 )
 
 _ONESHOT_INSTRUCTIONS = (
     "You are the same AI assistant that is currently working inside the "
     "conversation transcribed below. The user has asked a quick SIDE question "
-    "with /btw while the main work continues.\n"
-    "Rules:\n"
-    "- Answer ONLY the side question. Do not continue, redo, or critique the "
-    "main task.\n"
-    "- Use the transcript as your primary context; it is a snapshot and may "
-    "not include the very latest activity.\n"
-    "- If the transcript does not contain enough information to answer, say "
-    "so plainly instead of guessing.\n"
+    "with /btw while the main work continues.\nRules:\n"
+    "- Answer ONLY the side question. Do not continue, redo, or critique the main task.\n"
+    "- Use the transcript as your primary context; it is a snapshot and may not include the very latest activity.\n"
+    "- If the transcript does not contain enough information to answer, say so plainly instead of guessing.\n"
     "- Be concise and direct."
 )
 
@@ -138,8 +130,7 @@ def _answer_via_fork(parent_agent: Any, question: str, history: Optional[List[Di
             set(),
             deny_msg_fmt=(
                 "Side question (/btw) denied tool call: {tool_name}. "
-                "Tools are disabled here — answer directly from the "
-                "conversation context."
+                "Tools are disabled here — answer directly from the conversation context."
             ),
         )
         snapshot = trim_snapshot_for_fork(history)
diff --git a/agent/ssl_guard.py b/agent/ssl_guard.py
index b27ef5ecee..36702f8f71 100644
--- a/agent/ssl_guard.py
+++ b/agent/ssl_guard.py
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ _CA_BUNDLE_ENV_VARS = ("HERMES_CA_BUNDLE", "SSL_CERT_FILE", "REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE"
 _REPAIR_HINT = (
     "Repair: run `hermes doctor --fix` (auto-reinstalls certifi), or "
     "manually: python -m pip install --force-reinstall certifi openai httpx\n"
-    "If you configured a custom corporate CA bundle, fix or unset the "
-    "broken CA bundle environment variable."
+    "If you configured a custom corporate CA bundle, fix or unset the broken CA bundle environment variable."
 )
 
 
diff --git a/agent/thinking_timeout_guidance.py b/agent/thinking_timeout_guidance.py
index 8a6f20c78f..4df59cade2 100644
--- a/agent/thinking_timeout_guidance.py
+++ b/agent/thinking_timeout_guidance.py
@@ -45,15 +45,11 @@ def build_thinking_timeout_guidance(
         "\n\nThe model's thinking phase exceeded the upstream proxy's "
         "idle timeout before the first content token arrived. This is a "
         f"known issue with reasoning models (like {label}) behind cloud "
-        "gateways (NVIDIA NIM, OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek). Workarounds "
-        "in priority order:\n"
+        "gateways (NVIDIA NIM, OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek). Workarounds in priority order:\n"
         f"1. Set `providers.{provider}.models.{model}.stale_timeout_seconds: 900` "
         "in `~/.hermes/config.yaml` to extend the per-call timeout. "
         "(Hermes's built-in floor is 600s for known reasoning models — "
-        "if you still see this after raising, the upstream cap is even "
-        "shorter.)\n"
-        "2. Lower `reasoning_budget` or set `reasoning_effort: medium` on this "
-        "model if the provider supports it.\n"
-        "3. Use a smaller / faster reasoning model if the task doesn't "
-        "require deep thinking."
+        "if you still see this after raising, the upstream cap is even shorter.)\n"
+        "2. Lower `reasoning_budget` or set `reasoning_effort: medium` on this model if the provider supports it.\n"
+        "3. Use a smaller / faster reasoning model if the task doesn't require deep thinking."
     )