diff --git a/main/CMakeLists.txt b/main/CMakeLists.txt
index c15e956..13698bb 100644
--- a/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 idf_component_register(SRCS
     "main.c"
+    "spi_bus_manager.c"
+    "storage_manager.c"
     INCLUDE_DIRS "."
 )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/hw_pins.h b/main/hw_pins.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..994ecf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/hw_pins.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - Hardware pin assignments
+ *
+ * Do NOT change these unless explicitly instructed. SPI2_HOST (VSPI) is
+ * shared by the ST7789 display and the MFRC522 RFID reader.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "sdkconfig.h"
+#include "hal/gpio_types.h"
+#include "driver/spi_master.h"
+
+/* Shared SPI2_HOST (VSPI) bus */
+#define HW_SPI_HOST        (SPI2_HOST)
+#define HW_SPI_SCK_GPIO    (GPIO_NUM_18)
+#define HW_SPI_MOSI_GPIO   (GPIO_NUM_23)
+#define HW_SPI_MISO_GPIO   (GPIO_NUM_19)
+
+/* MFRC522 RFID reader */
+#define HW_RC522_CS_GPIO   (GPIO_NUM_5)
+#define HW_RC522_RST_GPIO  (GPIO_NUM_22)
+
+/* ST7789 display */
+#define HW_LCD_CS_GPIO     (GPIO_NUM_15)
+#define HW_LCD_DC_GPIO     (GPIO_NUM_2)
+#define HW_LCD_RST_GPIO    (GPIO_NUM_4)
+
+/* EC11 rotary encoder */
+#define HW_ENC_CLK_GPIO    (GPIO_NUM_32)
+#define HW_ENC_DT_GPIO     (GPIO_NUM_33)
+#define HW_ENC_SW_GPIO     (GPIO_NUM_25)
+
+/* WS2812B Neopixel */
+#define HW_NEOPIXEL_GPIO   (GPIO_NUM_27)
+
+/* Piezo buzzer */
+#define HW_BUZZER_GPIO     (GPIO_NUM_14)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/main.c b/main/main.c
index ba112ca..ac45d1c 100644
--- a/main/main.c
+++ b/main/main.c
@@ -1,19 +1,21 @@
-/*
- * MTG RFID Companion - Entry point
- *
- * Phase 1: Boot scaffold. Subsequent phases attach managers here.
- */
-
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
 #include "freertos/task.h"
 #include "esp_log.h"
+#include "spi_bus_manager.h"
+#include "storage_manager.h"
 
 static const char *TAG = "MAIN";
 
 void app_main(void)
 {
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "MTG RFID Companion booting...");
+
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(spi_bus_manager_init());
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(storage_manager_init());
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Boot sequence complete. Ready for Phase 3+.");
+
     while (1) {
         vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
     }
diff --git a/main/spi_bus_manager.c b/main/spi_bus_manager.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dac121e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/spi_bus_manager.c
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - Shared SPI bus manager
+ */
+
+#include <string.h>
+#include "esp_log.h"
+#include "spi_bus_manager.h"
+#include "hw_pins.h"
+
+static const char *TAG = "spi_bus";
+
+/* 240 x 80 rows x 2 bytes per pixel. Largest contiguous DMA transfer the
+ * display engine will issue. */
+#define HW_SPI_MAX_TRANSFER_SZ (240 * 80 * sizeof(uint16_t))
+
+esp_err_t spi_bus_manager_init(void)
+{
+    spi_bus_config_t buscfg = {
+        .sclk_io_num = HW_SPI_SCK_GPIO,
+        .mosi_io_num = HW_SPI_MOSI_GPIO,
+        .miso_io_num = HW_SPI_MISO_GPIO,
+        .quadwp_io_num = -1,
+        .quadhd_io_num = -1,
+        .max_transfer_sz = HW_SPI_MAX_TRANSFER_SZ,
+    };
+
+    esp_err_t ret = spi_bus_initialize(HW_SPI_HOST, &buscfg, SPI_DMA_CH_AUTO);
+    if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "spi_bus_initialize failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(ret));
+        return ret;
+    }
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "SPI2_HOST ready: SCK=%d MOSI=%d MISO=%d",
+             HW_SPI_SCK_GPIO, HW_SPI_MOSI_GPIO, HW_SPI_MISO_GPIO);
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/spi_bus_manager.h b/main/spi_bus_manager.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab3078b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/spi_bus_manager.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - Shared SPI bus manager
+ *
+ * Phase 2 Step 2.3: Initializes the single SPI2_HOST (VSPI) bus shared by
+ * the ST7789 display and the MFRC522 RFID reader.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esp_err.h"
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * @brief Initialize the shared SPI2_HOST bus.
+ *
+ * Must be called exactly once before the display and RFID driver attach
+ * their SPI devices. MFRC522 is passed a NULL bus_config so that it adds
+ * its device to this pre-existing bus instead of trying to own it.
+ */
+esp_err_t spi_bus_manager_init(void);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/storage_manager.c b/main/storage_manager.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f212c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/storage_manager.c
@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - LittleFS storage manager
+ */
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/unistd.h>
+#include "esp_log.h"
+#include "esp_littlefs.h"
+#include "storage_manager.h"
+
+static const char *TAG = "storage";
+
+#define STORAGE_PARTITION_LABEL "storage"
+#define STORAGE_BOOT_COUNT_FILE STORAGE_BASE_PATH "/boot_count.txt"
+#define STORAGE_TEST_FILE       STORAGE_BASE_PATH "/test.txt"
+
+static const char SAMPLE_MAPPINGS[] =
+    "{\n"
+    "  \"04A2B3C4\": \"Sol Ring\",\n"
+    "  \"04E1F2A3\": \"Atraxa, Praetors' Voice\"\n"
+    "}\n";
+
+static const char SAMPLE_CARD[] =
+    "{\n"
+    "  \"name\": \"Sol Ring\",\n"
+    "  \"mana_cost\": \"{1}\",\n"
+    "  \"type\": \"Artifact\",\n"
+    "  \"oracle\": \"Tap: Add CC.\",\n"
+    "  \"price_usd\": \"1.25\"\n"
+    "}\n";
+
+bool storage_file_exists(const char *path)
+{
+    struct stat st;
+    return (stat(path, &st) == 0) && S_ISREG(st.st_mode);
+}
+
+esp_err_t storage_read_text(const char *path, char **out_buf, size_t *out_len)
+{
+    if (out_buf == NULL || out_len == NULL) {
+        return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+    *out_buf = NULL;
+    *out_len = 0;
+
+    FILE *f = fopen(path, "rb");
+    if (f == NULL) {
+        return ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND;
+    }
+
+    if (fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END) != 0) {
+        fclose(f);
+        return ESP_FAIL;
+    }
+    long size = ftell(f);
+    if (size < 0) {
+        fclose(f);
+        return ESP_FAIL;
+    }
+    rewind(f);
+
+    char *buf = malloc((size_t)size + 1);
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        fclose(f);
+        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
+    }
+
+    size_t rd = fread(buf, 1, (size_t)size, f);
+    fclose(f);
+    if (rd != (size_t)size) {
+        free(buf);
+        return ESP_FAIL;
+    }
+    buf[rd] = '\0';
+    *out_buf = buf;
+    *out_len = rd;
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
+
+esp_err_t storage_write_text(const char *path, const char *text)
+{
+    char tmp[288];
+    const size_t len = strlen(path);
+
+    if (len > sizeof(tmp) - 8) {
+        return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+    snprintf(tmp, sizeof(tmp), "%s.tmp", path);
+
+    FILE *f = fopen(tmp, "wb");
+    if (f == NULL) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "open %s failed", tmp);
+        return ESP_FAIL;
+    }
+    size_t wr = fwrite(text, 1, strlen(text), f);
+    if (wr != strlen(text) || fflush(f) != 0 || fclose(f) != 0) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "write %s failed", tmp);
+        remove(tmp);
+        return ESP_FAIL;
+    }
+    if (rename(tmp, path) != 0) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "rename %s -> %s failed", tmp, path);
+        remove(tmp);
+        return ESP_FAIL;
+    }
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
+
+static esp_err_t seed_defaults(void)
+{
+    /* Create /spiffs/cards directory */
+    mkdir(STORAGE_CARDS_DIR, 0755);
+
+    if (!storage_file_exists(STORAGE_MAPPINGS)) {
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "seeding %s", STORAGE_MAPPINGS);
+        esp_err_t ret = storage_write_text(STORAGE_MAPPINGS, SAMPLE_MAPPINGS);
+        if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+            return ret;
+        }
+    }
+
+    char sample_path[64];
+    snprintf(sample_path, sizeof(sample_path), STORAGE_CARDS_DIR "/sample.json");
+    if (!storage_file_exists(sample_path)) {
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "seeding %s", sample_path);
+        esp_err_t ret = storage_write_text(sample_path, SAMPLE_CARD);
+        if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+            return ret;
+        }
+    }
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
+
+static void cross_reboot_persistence_test(void)
+{
+    /* Persistent boot counter: proves writes survive a reset/reboot. */
+    char buf[16] = {0};
+    uint32_t count = 0;
+
+    FILE *f = fopen(STORAGE_BOOT_COUNT_FILE, "rb");
+    if (f != NULL) {
+        if (fread(buf, 1, sizeof(buf) - 1, f) > 0) {
+            count = (uint32_t)strtoul(buf, NULL, 10);
+            ESP_LOGI(TAG, "boot_count read back = %lu (persistence across reboots OK)", (unsigned long)count);
+        }
+        fclose(f);
+    }
+
+    count++;
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%lu\n", (unsigned long)count);
+    storage_write_text(STORAGE_BOOT_COUNT_FILE, buf);
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "boot_count updated to %lu", (unsigned long)count);
+
+    /* Sanity write/read within the same boot. */
+    storage_write_text(STORAGE_TEST_FILE, "MTG-RFID-COMPANION persistence test\n");
+    char *rd = NULL;
+    size_t rd_len = 0;
+    if (storage_read_text(STORAGE_TEST_FILE, &rd, &rd_len) == ESP_OK && rd != NULL) {
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "test.txt echoed back: %s", rd);
+        free(rd);
+    } else {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "test.txt read-back failed");
+    }
+}
+
+esp_err_t storage_manager_init(void)
+{
+    esp_vfs_littlefs_conf_t conf = {
+        .base_path = STORAGE_BASE_PATH,
+        .partition_label = STORAGE_PARTITION_LABEL,
+        .format_if_mount_failed = true,
+    };
+
+    esp_err_t ret = esp_vfs_littlefs_register(&conf);
+    if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "LittleFS mount failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(ret));
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    size_t total = 0;
+    size_t used = 0;
+    if (esp_littlefs_info(STORAGE_PARTITION_LABEL, &total, &used) == ESP_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "LittleFS mounted at %s: %d bytes total, %d used",
+                 STORAGE_BASE_PATH, (int)total, (int)used);
+    } else {
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "LittleFS mounted at %s", STORAGE_BASE_PATH);
+    }
+
+    ret = seed_defaults();
+    if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "seeding default files failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(ret));
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    cross_reboot_persistence_test();
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/storage_manager.h b/main/storage_manager.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0169441
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/storage_manager.h
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - LittleFS storage manager
+ *
+ * Phase 2: Mounts LittleFS at /spiffs on the "storage" partition, seeds the
+ * default database files on first boot, and exposes file helpers used by the
+ * RFID/cache/web subsystems.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esp_err.h"
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#define STORAGE_BASE_PATH   "/spiffs"
+#define STORAGE_MAPPINGS    STORAGE_BASE_PATH "/mappings.json"
+#define STORAGE_CARDS_DIR   STORAGE_BASE_PATH "/cards"
+
+/**
+ * @brief Mount LittleFS and seed default files.
+ * @return ESP_OK on success.
+ */
+esp_err_t storage_manager_init(void);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Check whether a file exists on the filesystem.
+ */
+bool storage_file_exists(const char *path);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Read an entire file into a heap allocated buffer (caller frees).
+ * @param[out] out_buf NULL terminated buffer; NULL and out_len=0 if missing.
+ */
+esp_err_t storage_read_text(const char *path, char **out_buf, size_t *out_len);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Write text (plus terminating newline) to a file atomically.
+ */
+esp_err_t storage_write_text(const char *path, const char *text);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file