:root {
      
            --nice-border: #F87A53;
            --nice-bg: #f6f4f9;
        }

        /* ----- REFINED .nice-select (enhanced + search ready) ----- */
        .nice-select {
            position: relative;
            display: block;
            -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
            background-color: #f6f4f9;
            border-radius: 0px;
            border: 1px solid #F87A53;    /* fixed from 1cm to 1px for usability */
            box-sizing: border-box;
            clear: both;
            cursor: pointer;
            float: none;
            font-family: inherit;
            color: black;
            font-size: 14px;
            font-weight: 500;
            height: 48px;                 /* increased for better UX */
            line-height: 46px;
            outline: none;
            padding-left: 18px;
            padding-right: 40px;
            text-align: left !important;
            transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;
            user-select: none;
            white-space: nowrap;
            width: 100%;
            margin-bottom: px;
        }

        .nice-select:hover {
            border-color: #c96342;
            background-color: #fffbfe;
        }

        .nice-select:active,
        .nice-select.open,
        .nice-select:focus {
            border-color: #c04e2c;
            box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(248,122,83,0.2);
        }

        /* custom arrow */
        .nice-select:after {
            position: absolute;
            right: 20px;
            top: 50%;
            margin-top: -5px;
            display: block;
            border-bottom: 2px solid var(--fistudy-gray);
            border-right: 2px solid var(--fistudy-gray);
            content: '';
            width: 9px;
            height: 9px;
            pointer-events: none;
            transform-origin: 66% 66%;
            transform: rotate(45deg);
            transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;
        }

        .nice-select.open:after {
            transform: rotate(-135deg);
            margin-top: -2px;
        }

        /* current selected text */
        .nice-select .current {
            display: block;
            overflow: hidden;
            text-overflow: ellipsis;
            white-space: nowrap;
            font-weight: 500;
            color: #2c3e4e;
        }

        /* dropdown list panel */
        .nice-select .list {
            position: absolute;
            top: 100%;
            left: 0;
            right: 0;
            background-color: var(--fistudy-base);
            border-radius: 0px;
            box-sizing: border-box;
            margin-top: 1px;
            opacity: 0;
            visibility: hidden;
            overflow-y: auto;
            max-height: 0;
            padding: 0;
            pointer-events: none;
            transform-origin: 50% 0;
            transform: scale(0.95) translateY(-12px);
            transition: all 0.18s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.9, 0.4, 1.1), opacity 0.12s;
            z-index: 99;
            box-shadow: 0 18px 32px -12px rgba(0,0,0,0.35);
            border: 1px solid rgba(248,122,83,0.5);
            border-top: none;
        }

        .nice-select.open .list {
            opacity: 1;
            visibility: visible;
            pointer-events: auto;
            transform: scale(1) translateY(0);
            max-height: 380px;      /* smooth scrolling */
            overflow-y: auto;
        }

        /* ----- SEARCH FIELD inside dropdown ----- */
        .nice-select .search-wrap {
            padding: 12px 12px 8px 12px;
            background: var(--fistudy-base);
            border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(248,122,83,0.3);
            position: sticky;
            top: 0;
            z-index: 2;
        }

        .nice-select .search-input {
            width: 100%;
            background: #2a3a46;
            border: none;
            padding: 10px 14px;
            font-size: 13px;
            border-radius: 40px;
            color: white;
            outline: none;
            transition: all 0.2s;
            font-family: inherit;
        }

        .nice-select .search-input::placeholder {
            color: #b9c8d9;
            font-weight: 300;
            font-size: 12px;
        }

        .nice-select .search-input:focus {
            background: #1f2e3a;
            box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px #F87A53;
        }

        /* options container */
        .nice-select .options-container {
            max-height: 280px;
            overflow-y: auto;
        }

        /* individual option style */
        .nice-select .option {
            color: #f0f2f5;
            font-weight: 400;
            line-height: 38px;
            list-style: none;
            min-height: 38px;
            padding: 0 16px;
            cursor: pointer;
            transition: all 0.12s;
            font-size: 13.5px;
            white-space: nowrap;
            overflow: hidden;
            text-overflow: ellipsis;
        }

        .nice-select .option:hover,
        .nice-select .option.focus {
            background-color: var(--fistudy-black);
            color: White;
            padding-left: 22px;
        }

        .nice-select .option.selected {
            font-weight: 700;
            background-color: rgba(248,122,83,0.2);
            color: white;
            border-left: 3px solid #F87A53;
        }

        .nice-select .option.disabled {
            opacity: 0.5;
            cursor: default;
            background: transparent;
        }

        /* limit indicator / "more items hint" */
        .limit-message {
            font-size: 11px;
            padding: 8px 16px;
            background: #15222e;
            color: #ffb69a;
            border-top: 1px solid rgba(248,122,83,0.3);
            text-align: center;
            letter-spacing: 0.3px;
        }

        .no-match {
            padding: 18px 16px;
            text-align: center;
            color: #cddce9;
            font-size: 13px;
            font-style: italic;
        }

        /* scrollbar beauty */
        .nice-select .options-container::-webkit-scrollbar {
            width: 5px;
        }
        .nice-select .options-container::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
            background: #1a2a34;
        }
        .nice-select .options-container::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
            background: #F87A53;
            border-radius: 8px;
        }

        /* helper text */
        .info-badge {
            background: #ece6f0;
            padding: 12px 18px;
            border-radius: 20px;
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            color: #2b2a38;
            margin-top: 24px;
            display: flex;
            gap: 12px;
            flex-wrap: wrap;
            align-items: center;
        }
        .info-badge code {
            background: #1e2a36;
            color: #F87A53;
            padding: 4px 12px;
            border-radius: 40px;
            font-size: 0.75rem;
        }
        .selected-value {
            font-weight: 700;
            background: #F87A5310;
            border-radius: 24px;
            padding: 2px 12px;
        }