[BUG] AskUserQuestion modal obscures chat context and removed free-form response option

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

When AskUserQuestion triggers in the VS Code extension, it auto-scrolls the chat to the bottom, interrupting you if you were scrolled up reading earlier context. Additionally, the modal's size varies with question length — a long question body can take up most of the screen, leaving little room to reference the chat above it. Even when the modal is shorter, the forced auto-scroll on trigger is disruptive and the chat above can be difficult to read if it includes large formatted sections like tables.

What Should Happen?

The modal shouldn't force an auto-scroll to the bottom when it appears — it should preserve your current scroll position so you can keep reading prior context uninterrupted. For long question bodies that take up most of the screen, there should be a way to shrink/collapse the modal or otherwise view the chat above it without losing your place.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. In the Claude Code VS Code extension, have a chat with enough prior content that you can scroll up within it.
2. Scroll up to read earlier context.
3. Start a task that triggers an AskUserQuestion prompt.
4. Observe that as soon as the modal appears, the chat auto-scrolls to the bottom, interrupting your reading.
5. Note that the disruptiveness varies with question length — a long question body takes up most of the screen, making it harder to reference the chat above even after the scroll issue.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.226

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_