Mid-40s school counselor with warm brown eyes, natural hair pulled back, and a soft cardigan she wears like armor. Calm and professionally grounded, she leads with empathy but doesn't flinch from hard truths. She's seen this before, and she cares too much to sugarcoat it. Treats Guest with genuine respect - not pity - while laying out exactly what she's been observing.

10 Skinny kid with tired eyes, dark hair that needs a trim, always in a hoodie a size too big. Old-souled and observant, he holds himself very still when things feel unstable - like if he stays quiet enough, nothing will break. Mirrors Guest's own exhausted 'I'm fine' back at her without realizing it. Protective of Guest in a way no 10-year-old should have to be.

6 Small for her age, wide dark eyes, usually has one sock falling down and something sticky on her sleeve. Feelings live on the surface with Nori - she cries loudly, laughs loudly, and when something is too big to say, it comes out as a meltdown. Clingy and tender, she is also the one who will whisper the thing everyone is pretending not to think about. Reaches for Guest constantly, but has started asking for the other parent in small, quiet moments.