diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/answer-post/answer-post.component.html b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/answer-post/answer-post.component.html
index 073e4e907593..6682f5c146c0 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/answer-post/answer-post.component.html
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/answer-post/answer-post.component.html
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
             [isReadOnlyMode]="isReadOnlyMode"
             [isCommunicationPage]="isCommunicationPage"
             [lastReadDate]="lastReadDate"
-            [hasChannelModerationRights]="hasChannelModerationRights"
             [isDeleted]="isDeleted"
         />
     }
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.html b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.html
index 1fcad5a5987f..42352bdfa0d6 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.html
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.html
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
             [posting]="posting"
             [isDeleted]="isDeleted"
             [isCommunicationPage]="isCommunicationPage"
-            [hasChannelModerationRights]="hasChannelModerationRights"
             (isModalOpen)="displayInlineInput = true"
             [lastReadDate]="lastReadDate"
         />
@@ -68,6 +67,7 @@
                         ></jhi-posting-content>
                         <div class="hover-actions post-content-margin" [ngClass]="{ 'mb-2': previewMode }">
                             @if (!previewMode) {
+                                <!-- Post reactions (that appear when post is hovered) -->
                                 <jhi-post-reactions-bar
                                     [lastReadDate]="lastReadDate"
                                     [readOnlyMode]="readOnlyMode"
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
     }
     @if (!isDeleted) {
         <div class="post-content-margin justify-content-between" [ngClass]="{ 'mb-2': previewMode }">
-            <!-- Post reactions -->
+            <!-- Post reactions (to show replies & reactions under the post) -->
             @if (!previewMode) {
                 <jhi-post-reactions-bar
                     [lastReadDate]="lastReadDate"
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@
                     [isCommunicationPage]="isCommunicationPage"
                     [isThreadSidebar]="isThreadSidebar"
                     (openPostingCreateEditModal)="openCreateAnswerPostModal()"
+                    (closePostingCreateEditModal)="closeCreateAnswerPostModal()"
                     (openThread)="openThread.emit()"
                     (isModalOpen)="displayInlineInput = true"
                     [isEmojiCount]="true"
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@
             <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.metis.post.deleteMessage"></span>
         </button>
     }
-    <button class="dropdown-item d-flex" (click)="openThread.emit()">
+    <button class="dropdown-item d-flex" (click)="isCommunicationPage ? openThread.emit() : reactionsBarComponent?.openAnswerView()">
         <fa-icon [icon]="faComments" class="item-icon"></fa-icon>
         <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.metis.post.replyMessage"></span>
     </button>
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.scss b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.scss
index 1a6cf4b3ace2..10cb7ef83132 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.scss
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.scss
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     top: -1.8rem;
     right: 1%;
     display: flex;
+    max-height: 2.2rem;
     gap: 10px;
     visibility: hidden;
     transition:
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.ts b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.ts
index d70c13abae68..bd502fbea1ac 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.ts
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/post/post.component.ts
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export class PostComponent extends PostingDirective<Post> implements OnInit, OnC
 
     isConsecutive = input<boolean>(false);
     dropdownPosition = { x: 0, y: 0 };
-    @ViewChild(PostReactionsBarComponent) private reactionsBarComponent!: PostReactionsBarComponent;
+    @ViewChild(PostReactionsBarComponent) protected reactionsBarComponent!: PostReactionsBarComponent;
 
     constructor(
         public metisService: MetisService,
@@ -218,6 +218,13 @@ export class PostComponent extends PostingDirective<Post> implements OnInit, OnC
         this.postFooterComponent.openCreateAnswerPostModal();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Close create answer modal
+     */
+    closeCreateAnswerPostModal() {
+        this.postFooterComponent.closeCreateAnswerPostModal();
+    }
+
     /**
      * sorts answerPosts by two criteria
      * 1. criterion: resolvesPost -> true comes first
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.ts b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.ts
index 7f6d3b0531a5..5808a9b342ba 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.ts
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.ts
@@ -173,6 +173,13 @@ export class PostFooterComponent extends PostingFooterDirective<Post> implements
         this.createAnswerPostModalComponent.open();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Close create answer modal
+     */
+    closeCreateAnswerPostModal() {
+        this.createAnswerPostModalComponent.close();
+    }
+
     protected postsTrackByFn(index: number, post: Post): number {
         return post.id!;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/answer-post-header/answer-post-header.component.ts b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/answer-post-header/answer-post-header.component.ts
index 9871b3bbee8f..bb1ff3cbbbd2 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/answer-post-header/answer-post-header.component.ts
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/answer-post-header/answer-post-header.component.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { Component, EventEmitter, Input, OnChanges, OnInit, Output } from '@angu
 import { AnswerPost } from 'app/entities/metis/answer-post.model';
 import { PostingHeaderDirective } from 'app/shared/metis/posting-header/posting-header.directive';
 import { MetisService } from 'app/shared/metis/metis.service';
-import { faCheck, faCog, faPencilAlt } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons';
+import { faCheck, faPencilAlt } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons';
 import dayjs from 'dayjs/esm';
 import { AccountService } from 'app/core/auth/account.service';
 
@@ -18,13 +18,9 @@ export class AnswerPostHeaderComponent extends PostingHeaderDirective<AnswerPost
     @Input() lastReadDate?: dayjs.Dayjs;
     @Output() openPostingCreateEditModal = new EventEmitter<void>();
 
-    isAuthorOfOriginalPost: boolean;
-    isAnswerOfAnnouncement: boolean;
-
     // Icons
-    faCheck = faCheck;
-    faPencilAlt = faPencilAlt;
-    faCog = faCog;
+    readonly faCheck = faCheck;
+    readonly faPencilAlt = faPencilAlt;
 
     constructor(
         protected metisService: MetisService,
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/post-header/post-header.component.ts b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/post-header/post-header.component.ts
index 3463b66456fc..fe4bc129addd 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/post-header/post-header.component.ts
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-header/post-header/post-header.component.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { Post } from 'app/entities/metis/post.model';
 import { PostingHeaderDirective } from 'app/shared/metis/posting-header/posting-header.directive';
 import { MetisService } from 'app/shared/metis/metis.service';
 import { PostCreateEditModalComponent } from 'app/shared/metis/posting-create-edit-modal/post-create-edit-modal/post-create-edit-modal.component';
-import { faCheckSquare, faCog, faPencilAlt } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons';
+import { faCheckSquare, faPencilAlt } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons';
 import dayjs from 'dayjs/esm';
 import { CachingStrategy } from 'app/shared/image/secured-image.component';
 import { AccountService } from 'app/core/auth/account.service';
@@ -22,9 +22,8 @@ export class PostHeaderComponent extends PostingHeaderDirective<Post> implements
     isAtLeastInstructorInCourse: boolean;
 
     // Icons
-    faPencilAlt = faPencilAlt;
-    faCheckSquare = faCheckSquare;
-    faCog = faCog;
+    readonly faPencilAlt = faPencilAlt;
+    readonly faCheckSquare = faCheckSquare;
 
     constructor(
         protected metisService: MetisService,
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.html b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.html
index 86a4a499a599..e0ed87168dc9 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.html
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.html
@@ -89,13 +89,4 @@
             }
         }
     </div>
-    <!-- add new answer to expanded discussion -->
-    @if (isLastAnswer && !isThreadSidebar) {
-        <div>
-            <button class="reaction-button clickable reply-btn" (click)="openPostingCreateEditModal.emit()">
-                <jhi-emoji [emoji]="speechBalloonId" />
-                <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.metis.reply" class="emoji-count"></span>
-            </button>
-        </div>
-    }
 </div>
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.html b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.html
index 5ba32fbe573e..500954b38df8 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.html
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.html
@@ -1,10 +1,18 @@
-<div class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2 fs-xx-small align-items-center">
+<div class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2 fs-xx-small align-items-center" style="width: max-content">
+    @if (hoverBar && sortedAnswerPosts.length === 0) {
+        <div>
+            <button class="reaction-button clickable reply-btn" (click)="isCommunicationPage ? openThread.emit() : openAnswerView()">
+                <fa-icon class="fa-xs align-self-center" [icon]="faArrowRight" />
+                <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.conversationsLayout.threadSideBar.reply" class="emoji-count px-2"></span>
+            </button>
+        </div>
+    }
     @if (!isCommunicationPage) {
         @if (sortedAnswerPosts.length) {
             <!-- collapse answers -->
             @if (showAnswers) {
                 <div>
-                    <button class="reaction-button clickable collapse-answers-btn" [class.reaction-button--reacted]="showAnswers" (click)="showAnswersChange.emit(false)">
+                    <button class="reaction-button clickable collapse-answers-btn" [class.reaction-button--reacted]="showAnswers" (click)="closeAnswerView()">
                         <jhi-emoji [emoji]="closeCrossId" />
                         <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.metis.collapseAnswers" class="emoji-count"></span>
                     </button>
@@ -12,8 +20,8 @@
             } @else {
                 <!-- expand answers -->
                 <div>
-                    <button class="reaction-button clickable expand-answers-btn" (click)="showAnswersChange.emit(true)">
-                        <jhi-emoji [emoji]="speechBalloonId" />
+                    <button class="reaction-button clickable expand-answers-btn" (click)="openAnswerView()">
+                        <fa-icon class="fa-xs align-self-center" [icon]="faArrowRight" />
                         <span class="emoji-count">{{
                             sortedAnswerPosts.length === 1
                                 ? ('artemisApp.metis.showSingleAnswer' | artemisTranslate)
@@ -22,26 +30,9 @@
                     </button>
                 </div>
             }
-        } @else {
-            <!-- start discussion -->
-            <div>
-                <button class="reaction-button clickable reply-btn" (click)="openPostingCreateEditModal.emit()" [disabled]="readOnlyMode">
-                    <jhi-emoji [emoji]="speechBalloonId" />
-                    <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.metis.reply" class="emoji-count"></span>
-                </button>
-            </div>
         }
     } @else {
         @if (!isThreadSidebar) {
-            <!-- start discussion -->
-            @if (hoverBar && sortedAnswerPosts.length === 0) {
-                <div>
-                    <button class="reaction-button clickable reply-btn" (click)="openThread.emit()">
-                        <fa-icon class="fa-xs align-self-center" [icon]="faArrowRight" />
-                        <span jhiTranslate="artemisApp.conversationsLayout.threadSideBar.reply" class="emoji-count px-2"></span>
-                    </button>
-                </div>
-            }
             <!-- expand answers -->
             @if (!showAnswers && sortedAnswerPosts.length) {
                 <div>
@@ -142,7 +133,7 @@
         }
     </div>
     <div>
-        @if (getShowNewMessageIcon()) {
+        @if (isEmojiCount && getShowNewMessageIcon()) {
             <div jhiTranslate="global.generic.new" class="badge bg-secondary hideAfter5Seconds"></div>
         }
     </div>
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.ts b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.ts
index 1d039326b20b..2ff96f282a6b 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.ts
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export class PostReactionsBarComponent extends PostingsReactionsBarDirective<Pos
 
     @Output() showAnswersChange = new EventEmitter<boolean>();
     @Output() openPostingCreateEditModal = new EventEmitter<void>();
+    @Output() closePostingCreateEditModal = new EventEmitter<void>();
     @Output() openThread = new EventEmitter<void>();
     @Input() previewMode: boolean;
     isAtLeastInstructorInCourse: boolean;
@@ -63,6 +64,16 @@ export class PostReactionsBarComponent extends PostingsReactionsBarDirective<Pos
         return Object.values(this.reactionMetaDataMap).some((reaction) => reaction.count >= 1);
     }
 
+    openAnswerView() {
+        this.showAnswersChange.emit(true);
+        this.openPostingCreateEditModal.emit();
+    }
+
+    closeAnswerView() {
+        this.showAnswersChange.emit(false);
+        this.closePostingCreateEditModal.emit();
+    }
+
     /**
      * on initialization: call resetTooltipsAndPriority
      */
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/posting-reactions-bar.component.scss b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/posting-reactions-bar.component.scss
index 0a289a54ceaa..bc7fbfc61165 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/posting-reactions-bar.component.scss
+++ b/src/main/webapp/app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/posting-reactions-bar.component.scss
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     border-radius: 1rem;
     align-items: center;
     height: 1.2rem;
+    display: inline-flex;
 
     &.open-selector {
         box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px var(--metis-gray);
diff --git a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/post/post.component.spec.ts b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/post/post.component.spec.ts
index cdcc598b7988..c7c9cf4f24db 100644
--- a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/post/post.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/post/post.component.spec.ts
@@ -170,6 +170,15 @@ describe('PostComponent', () => {
         expect(postFooterOpenCreateAnswerPostModal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
     });
 
+    it('should close create answer post modal', () => {
+        component.posting = metisPostExerciseUser1;
+        component.ngOnInit();
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        const postFooterOpenCreateAnswerPostModal = jest.spyOn(component.postFooterComponent, 'closeCreateAnswerPostModal');
+        component.closeCreateAnswerPostModal();
+        expect(postFooterOpenCreateAnswerPostModal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    });
+
     it('should create or navigate to oneToOneChat when not on messaging page', () => {
         const navigateSpy = jest.spyOn(router, 'navigate');
         const oneToOneChatService = TestBed.inject(OneToOneChatService);
diff --git a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.spec.ts b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.spec.ts
index 45c38925db52..8071b5a84a95 100644
--- a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-footer/post-footer/post-footer.component.spec.ts
@@ -151,4 +151,13 @@ describe('PostFooterComponent', () => {
         component.openCreateAnswerPostModal();
         expect(createAnswerPostModalOpen).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
     });
+
+    it('should close create answer post modal', () => {
+        component.posting = metisPostExerciseUser1;
+        component.ngOnInit();
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        const createAnswerPostModalClose = jest.spyOn(component.createAnswerPostModalComponent, 'close');
+        component.closeCreateAnswerPostModal();
+        expect(createAnswerPostModalClose).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    });
 });
diff --git a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts
index 8e5b51590166..a3b889e8d146 100644
--- a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar/answer-post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts
@@ -193,15 +193,6 @@ describe('AnswerPostReactionsBarComponent', () => {
         expect(answerNowButton).toBeNull();
     });
 
-    it('answer now button should be visible if answer is the last one', () => {
-        component.posting = post;
-        component.isLastAnswer = true;
-        component.ngOnInit();
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-        const answerNowButton = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.reply-btn')).nativeElement;
-        expect(answerNowButton.innerHTML).toContain('reply');
-    });
-
     it('should invoke metis service when toggle resolve is clicked', () => {
         metisServiceUserPostingAuthorMock.mockReturnValue(true);
         fixture.detectChanges();
diff --git a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts
index f5ccda3ada15..d1b1607ffb1d 100644
--- a/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/test/javascript/spec/component/shared/metis/postings-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component.spec.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { MetisService } from 'app/shared/metis/metis.service';
 import { DebugElement } from '@angular/core';
 import { Post } from 'app/entities/metis/post.model';
 import { MockComponent, MockDirective, MockModule, MockPipe, MockProvider } from 'ng-mocks';
-import { getElement, getElements } from '../../../../../helpers/utils/general.utils';
+import { getElement } from '../../../../../helpers/utils/general.utils';
 import { PostReactionsBarComponent } from 'app/shared/metis/posting-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar/post-reactions-bar.component';
 import { OverlayModule } from '@angular/cdk/overlay';
 import { Reaction } from 'app/entities/metis/reaction.model';
@@ -239,9 +239,8 @@ describe('PostReactionsBarComponent', () => {
         component.posting = post;
 
         component.ngOnInit();
+        component.isEmojiCount = true;
         fixture.detectChanges();
-        const reactions = getElements(debugElement, 'jhi-emoji');
-        expect(reactions).toHaveLength(2);
         expect(component.reactionMetaDataMap).toEqual({
             smile: {
                 count: 1,
@@ -311,14 +310,6 @@ describe('PostReactionsBarComponent', () => {
         expect(component.pinTooltip).toBe('artemisApp.metis.pinnedPostTooltip');
     });
 
-    it('start discussion button should be visible if post does not yet have any answers', () => {
-        component.posting = post;
-        component.sortedAnswerPosts = [];
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-        const startDiscussion = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.reply-btn')).nativeElement;
-        expect(startDiscussion.innerHTML).toContain('reply');
-    });
-
     it('should display button to show single answer', () => {
         component.posting = post;
         component.sortedAnswerPosts = [metisPostExerciseUser1];
@@ -343,4 +334,24 @@ describe('PostReactionsBarComponent', () => {
         const answerNowButton = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.collapse-answers-btn')).nativeElement;
         expect(answerNowButton.innerHTML).toContain('collapseAnswers');
     });
+
+    it('should emit showAnswersChange and openPostingCreateEditModal when openAnswerView is called', () => {
+        const showAnswersChangeSpy = jest.spyOn(component.showAnswersChange, 'emit');
+        const openPostingCreateEditModalSpy = jest.spyOn(component.openPostingCreateEditModal, 'emit');
+
+        component.openAnswerView();
+
+        expect(showAnswersChangeSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+        expect(openPostingCreateEditModalSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should emit showAnswersChange and closePostingCreateEditModal when closeAnswerView is called', () => {
+        const showAnswersChangeSpy = jest.spyOn(component.showAnswersChange, 'emit');
+        const closePostingCreateEditModalSpy = jest.spyOn(component.closePostingCreateEditModal, 'emit');
+
+        component.closeAnswerView();
+
+        expect(showAnswersChangeSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(false);
+        expect(closePostingCreateEditModalSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
 });