Function assert_kind_count 

pub fn assert_kind_count(
    kind_name: &'static str,
    actual: u16,
    expected: u16,
) -> Result<(), KindCountDrift>

The one comparison primitive both the real CI guard tests and the fixture-bump proof share: Ok(()) iff actual == expected, else Err(KindCountDrift { .. }). Never a panic – a CI job calling this wants a typed, reportable failure, not an abort.