Andrew is a complex deuteragonist whose volatile, enigmatic nature makes him a pivotal force in the story. His primary motivation is maintaining a controlled numbness to shield himself from his past, a goal that he achieves through a combination of psychiatric medication, alcohol, and curated violence. He appears apathetic toward most things, including Exy, which infuriates Kevin. However, events such as the phone call from Officer Higgins regarding his former abuser, Drake, reveal that this apathy is a fragile construct, easily shattered by triggers from his past. This internal conflict connects to the theme of Confrontation Versus Evasion as a Response to Trauma, as Andrew’s entire existence is an attempt to evade his own history. His contradictory behavior keeps others off balance, a defensive strategy that mirrors his goalkeeping style.

Despite his apparent detachment, Andrew functions as a fierce protector for a small, chosen few: his twin brother, Aaron; his cousin Nicky; and Kevin. His protection is often violent and possessive, and he maintains absolute control over his circle. He extends this protection to Neil, creating a deal that serves as a central plot device. In exchange for Neil’s help, Andrew promises to keep him alive, a promise symbolized by the gift of his keys. This act of giving Neil keys to his home and car is a profound gesture of trust, offering the perpetually untethered Neil a tangible anchor. Andrew’s motivations are rarely altruistic; his protection comes at a price, and his actions are calculated to serve his own needs. His brand of help is often morally ambiguous, as demonstrated by his method of forcing Matt into sobriety by providing him with drugs to induce an overdose.

Andrew’s relationships are characterized by manipulation and control. He maintains his power over Kevin by consistently denying him the one thing he wants: his full, sober commitment to Exy. With his brother, Aaron, he shares a relationship built on mutual resentment and a dark, unspoken history. He uses his intelligence and reputation to keep others at a distance. His frequent sarcastic quips serve to deflect and confuse, preventing anyone from getting too close to the truth of his experiences.

Drake’s climactic assault on Andrew exposes what his medication and defense mechanisms have concealed. His self-harm scars, previously hidden, become a physical testament to a history of suffering, recasting his destructive behavior as a desperate strategy for survival.

Kevin is a character whose identity is almost entirely subsumed by the sport of Exy. Having been raised in the abusive and high-stakes environment of the Edgar Allan Ravens, his self-worth is measured exclusively by his performance on the court. The violent shattering of his dominant hand by Riko has destroyed his former identity as the nation’s top striker. His struggle to relearn the game with his non-dominant hand is a testament to his obsessive single-mindedness and resilience. His condescending and demanding attitude toward his teammates stems from this perfectionism; he cannot tolerate anything less than their best because for him, Exy is a matter of life and death.

Kevin’s journey is defined by his relationship with his traumatic past. Initially, he attempts to evade the looming threat of the Ravens, but their transfer to the southeastern district makes a confrontation inevitable. His declaration that the Foxes will face them in the semifinals marks a significant shift in his character, moving from avoidance to defiance. His mentorship of Neil is harsh and relentless, but it is also his primary strategy for survival. He recognizes Neil’s raw potential and believes that molding him into a top-tier player is the Foxes’ only chance of standing up to the Ravens. This relationship reveals a deeper, more protective side to Kevin, especially when he admonishes Neil for his carelessness with injuries, a reaction clearly rooted in his own devastating experience.

When Kevin discovers Neil’s true identity as Nathaniel Wesninski, the son of his family’s enforcer, his two worlds collide violently. The revelation forces him to confront the full scope of the Moriyama family’s power and the danger Neil represents. His immediate reaction is to tell Neil to run, a response born from a deep understanding of the peril they are in. However, when Neil refuses, Kevin chooses to stand with him, promising to train him every night. This decision solidifies his commitment to the Foxes and completes his arc from a man running from his past to one preparing to fight for his future.

The upperclassmen—Danielle “Dan” Wilds, Matt Boyd, Renee Walker, and Allison Reynolds—function as a collective unit representing the established heart of the Palmetto State Foxes. They embody the theme of The Creation of a Found Family in the Wake of Trauma, having forged a tight bond to survive the team’s internal conflicts and their own difficult pasts. Dan, the team captain, is the group’s fierce leader, determined to unify the team’s fractured halves. Matt, a powerful backliner and Dan’s boyfriend, acts as a loyal enforcer and a potential bridge to Andrew’s group due to a complicated history with them. Renee is the team’s devout, empathetic soul, whose gentle demeanor belies a violent past and an unsettling friendship with Andrew, for whom she serves as a foil. Allison begins the novel shattered by the death of her boyfriend, Seth Gordon, and her journey is one of slowly processing her grief and rejoining the family that supports her. Together, they represent a fragile but resilient form of stability that Neil has never experienced. They are the first to attempt to integrate Neil, seeing him as a crucial link to finally making the Foxes a unified team.

Cousins Nicky and Aaron form a distinct subgroup within the Foxes. They serve as foils to each other and provide crucial backstory for Andrew. Together, they illustrate the different ways that trauma can manifest within a family, with Nicky pursuing connection and Aaron seeking distance.

Aaron is Andrew’s twin brother and his direct opposite. Where Andrew is performatively energetic and social, Aaron is sullen, withdrawn, and openly resentful. His identity is defined in opposition to his brother, whom he blames for their mother’s death. However, his repressed loyalty surfaces in a moment of crisis when he kills Drake to protect Andrew, an instinctive act that irrevocably changes their dynamic.

Nicky is the group’s emotional center, an expressive and often comic figure whose primary motivation is to create and maintain family ties. He desperately tries to mend his relationship with his parents, who hold antigay biases, while simultaneously attempting to foster a sense of brotherhood between the perpetually warring twins. His talkative nature makes him a key source of exposition, as he explains the twins’ traumatic separation and reunion to Neil.

Coach Wymack is the mentor and architect of the Palmetto State Foxes. He is a static character whose gruff, no-nonsense demeanor conceals a deep loyalty and paternalistic care for his players. Wymack’s defining coaching philosophy is his deliberate recruitment of athletes from “broken homes,” creating a team of outcasts who he believes have the necessary fight to succeed. This strategy establishes the book’s theme of found family, as Wymack curates a group of individuals who must learn to rely on each other because they have no one else. Pragmatic to a fault, he admits turning a blind eye to some of his team’s destructive coping mechanisms so long as they do not interfere with Exy. A flawed but unwavering authority figure, his vow to “stand behind” the Foxes “until the bitter, bloody end” underscores his role as the team’s anchor (6).

Riko is the novel’s primary antagonist and is a flat and static character who embodies absolute power and sadism. As the heir to the Moriyama Exy dynasty, he views other players as property, an attitude symbolized by the Ravens’ numbered tattoos. His possessive obsession with Kevin, his adoptive brother, is the main catalyst for the story’s external conflict. Riko unearths and weaponizes Neil’s past and orchestrates events from afar, including Seth’s overdose, to manipulate the Foxes. Riko’s confrontation with Neil at the fall banquet reveals his profound entitlement and cruelty. He operates without moral constraints, viewing Exy as a battlefield where he is the undisputed king and all others are subjects to be controlled or destroyed. He represents the inescapable past that both Neil and Kevin must ultimately confront.