Mila is a 12-year-old seventh-grader who plays the trumpet in the school band and assumes significant responsibilities at home, such as walking her dog Delilah and watching her younger sister. Following a summer growth spurt and strict family finances, she frequently wears a fuzzy green sweater that still fits. When a group of basketball players targets her with unwanted touching and boundary violations, she deals with feelings of confusion and isolation.

Callum is a seventh-grade basketball player who holds first chair in the school's trumpet section. He uses his position of minor authority to force physical proximity on Mila, demanding they share a music stand when he forgets his materials. He frequently leads the group of boys in their coordinated boundary violations while dismissing his actions as a joke.

Zara is a seventh-grade student who splits her personality between being loud and outgoing, and harboring deep insecurities about her appearance. She maintains an intense crush on a basketball player named Leo. Her desire for male attention often clouds her judgment, causing her to invalidate her friends' boundaries to impress the boys.

Omi is a seventh-grade girl raised by her grandparents in a financially stable, affectionate household. She actively avoids arguments and conflict, often retreating from tense situations. As the harassment against Mila escalates, Omi faces the challenge of overcoming her passive nature to support her friend.

Max is a seventh-grade boy who previously endured severe bullying from a classmate named Hunter. This past trauma leaves him highly vigilant and sensitive to teasing dynamics among his peers. He develops a connection with another boy named Jared, taking tentative steps toward embracing his identity.

Mila's mother works full-time to support her two daughters following their father's departure years ago. She experiences intense stress from a toxic workplace environment, leaving her exhausted and financially strapped. She relies heavily on Mila to manage household chores and childcare during the afternoons.

Samira is a confident band student who observes the boys harassing Mila on the school bus. She takes martial arts classes at E Motions gym, where she practices the kiai spirit yell. She actively encourages Mila to join the karate class to build self-defense skills and assertiveness.

Ms. Fender is the middle school band teacher who oversees the trumpet section. She maintains strict expectations for practice and performance, initially failing to notice the harassment occurring in her classroom.

Leo is a seventh-grade basketball player who participates in the coordinated targeting of Mila. He capitalizes on Zara's obvious crush on him to manipulate the girls' friend group.

Dante is a basketball player who routinely invades Mila's personal space in the hallways and on the bus. He purposefully blocks her path and uses his physical size to intimidate her under the guise of teasing.

Tobias is a basketball player who forces unwanted physical contact on Mila to earn the approval of his friends. Away from his peers, he acts like a responsible older brother to his young siblings.

Ms. Platt is the assertive instructor at the local gym. She teaches her students to use their voices firmly and refuse to surrender their personal space.

Hadley is Mila's six-year-old sister who frequently requires supervision in the afternoons. She eagerly participates in dance classes at the new local gym.

Mr. McCabe is the middle school assistant principal and the coach of the boys' basketball team. His dual roles make students hesitant to report the athletes' behavior to him.

Hunter is a middle school student with a history of bullying. He later participates in aggressive games on the playground that target female students.

Jared is a middle school boy who strikes up a quiet, text-based friendship with Max. He eventually joins the larger friend group at lunch.

Erica is the enthusiastic owner of E Motions, a newly opened fitness center. She runs the entire facility alone and struggles to manage the administrative workload.

Liana is a band student who relates to the unwanted attention at school. She stays silent about her own uncomfortable encounters with local boys to avoid drawing their focus back to her.