NorEmma

NorEmma is the het ship between Norman and Emma from The Promised Neverland fandom.

Canon
Having grown up together in the same house as the Gracefield kids, Norman and Emma have been best friends ever since they were little along with Ray. They share a close bond from their early childhood that persists throughout their time together and inspired each of them in one way or another throughout their time apart. Norman not only respects but also deeply loves Emma and has openly admitted so, wanting to protect her even if it means sacrificing his own safety in the process. Profoundly amazed by her kind, selfless, optimistic and honest nature, Norman greatly admires Emma and looks up to her with respect-showing an abundance of faith in her capabilities and taking her opinions to heart. He fully acknowledges but accepts her faults and greatly cares about her. Emma after his "shipment" is completely depressed but she is encouraged from his "final" words and want to keep their promise, stating that she'll make sure to live for him and see the world he couldn't see with his memory being a source of motivation for her. They re-unite after less than two years and share an emotional hug with Emma crying for the first time since his shipment, as she says having to lose him was one of her biggest regrets and torments. The two find themselves however on opposite opinions over how to reach the same goal of saving the cattle children. While Emma seeks a peaceful option that allows demons to live, Norman prefers to eradicate the entire species, because of his different experience with them and not having seen their most "human" side. Emma is shaken by the fact that for the first time ever, Norman is not going along with her plans, but soon finds again the motivation to seek a way to succeed in her own way when seeing how much pain Norman is going through. With both of them carrying their own plan for sake of the other's safety and happiness, eventually the trio re-unite again at the demon capital, Norman breaks down in front of his friends and confesses about his doubts and his sickness. Emma comforts him, telling him that he doesn't need to protect her and that she wants to walk alongside him. The two finally reconcile completely and begin to work together once again. After the group finds out about Peter attacking Norman's shelter and kidnapping the kids, Emma cheers up everyone, making Norman remember why he always felt like that kind of feelings for her.

When Emma disappears from the rest of the kids due to the "reward" she promised to Him, Norman feels broken, betrayed and angry at himself, reminding how she told him to not sacrifice himself and that she would be by his side and recalling his feelings for her. But thanks to Oliver's speech he regains optimism and promises that he'll reach Emma just like she reached him when he was sick. During the years separated, Norman recovered from his Lambda sickness, studied and founded Grace Field Company, an association that covers mechanics, pharmaceutic and social welfware departments. With the money gained, he sustained the family and financed Emma's search. Then, in Spring around Norman's birthday, Emma was found. Initially she was too panicked to communicate properly with the kids and to open her heart enough for them to reach her, however Norman took her hands and spoke about how everyone has been doing in that period of time, how he was happy that she was fine and finally expressing his deepest desire: he wanted to be with her. Emma is moved and with her emotions and feelings that survived the memory loss, she finally connects with her family, and as Norman reassures her that it doesn't matter if she isn't the same anymore, they both promise to live on together.

Some time later, it's seen that Emma's new home with Grandpa Alex its expanded and her family lives there with her, rotating in groups. The kids from Grace Field organise a trip around the world to realize their biggest wishes from back the days they lived into the house, with Norman telling Emma his wish to live with her and Ray is already true and with Emma finally being with her family and riding a giraffe.

Emma deeply cares about Norman and would do anything to keep him safe. He is her pillar and most trusted companion as she states in the novel. She is willing to be openly vulnerable and confide her fears and worries, finding emotional support and comfort in Norman and deeming him as kind and smart and always with a soft smile. It is also mentioned in the Light Novel “A Letter From Norman”, that she and Norman share a “deep feeling only understandable on a superior emotional level and was genuinely reciprocated.” Emma places a great amount of importance on Norman and outright refuses to accept any outcome that might endanger his life. She can't imagine a world without him and he is always one of her biggest sources of strength and motivation, both in life and death. His words and presence deeply inspire her and she continues to take them to heart throughout her journey. Even in the time she thought he was dead or they were on opposite sides, she always acted using him, his safety, happiness and memory as drive and purpose of succeeding.

Just the same, Norman has Emma as biggest inspiration. His crush, starting at young age, quickly developed to a mix of admiration and romantical love. Norman views Emma as the kind of person he desperately would like to be. A strong example of kindness, honesty and love. His actions more often than not are always centered on Emma's happiness or safety, shifting between the two with his mindset along the manga. While both of them are very spontaneous with gestured, physical affection and words towards each other, and while Norman had no troubles to admit the nature of his feelings for Emma to Ray, he isn't quite open about them with her. On his 11th birthday, he promised himself to confess to her once grown-ups, and promising her one day he would tell her his biggest wish (being with her forever/marrying). However, he renounces to confess in his letter before his shipment to not hurt her more buries even more his feelings once he gets terminally ill. He finally expresses partially his feelings during the last chapter of the manga when he confesses that he wanted to be with her and is yet to formally speak to her about his feelings, as they rebuild a new life and relationship together after her memory-loss.

While they found themselves with opposite views and even on opposite conflicting sides, they always acted for the sake of the other and never lost respect and admiration. Their conflict helped them taking more into account both qualities and flaws of each other, accepting them and helping overcoming the obstacles and negative attitudes they may had.

Escape Arc/Gracefield Arc
Emma and Norman have been best friends since their early childhood. Often seen together along with Ray who shares the same status as the other two. As little kids, Norman and Emma were very close, often playing together and even frequently teaming up to drag Ray into their antics. Emma was also known to persistently visit Norman whenever he was sick to keep him company despite being warned and punished several times, until Ray came up with the idea of using cup phones, ensuring they could still talk even from a distance.

Being the oldest kids in Gracefield at 11 years old, the trio assume the responsibility as older siblings. Norman and Emma were often the last two standing during the game of tag which almost always resulted in Norman's victory. The day of the shipment of their sister Conny would lead to the duo finding her left-behind stuffed toy which they both riskily attempt to return with Norman assuring Emma they could face the consequences together later.

After discovering the truth of their home, both kids return back to the house terrified with Emma visibly distressed and crying to which Norman comforts her. After seeing Norman's reassuring smile, Emma calms down and states to herself that she won't cry again.

The duo begin to secretly work together in order to come up with an escape plan that'll ensure the safety of all the Gracefield kids and decide to enlist the help of their shared mutual best friend Ray (who had been listening all along). After a disagreement among the trio, Ray questions Norman on why he decided to go along with Emma's plan despite being the most rational one among them to which Norman responds to loving Emma and wanting to see her happy; vowing to protect her safety even if it jeopardizes his.

While trying to capture the house spy, Norman goes to Emma to enlist her opinion on what the fate of the spy should be if ever they were to be found out to which Emma insists that they should be brought along despite their wrong doings. Norman takes this opinion to heart and decides to change his mind and instead speculate on the situation of the spy with a much more positive outlook. When the spy is revealed to be Ray who then insists that Norman deceive Emma in order for the plan to work, Norman is very hesitant to fool Emma and instead tries to think of a way to outsmart Ray, albeit stating it would be difficult to do so. Norman and Emma continue to work together through a deal with sister Krone along with Ray, Don and Gilda until the day the fateful plan is to be carried. The plan is put in Jeopardy when Mama Isabella arrives at the scene and gives the duo an ultimatum. The two look to each other without speaking, mutual understanding passing between them before they both decide to take action which unfortunately lead to Emma's leg being broken and a shipment announcement for Norman. Emma becomes severely distressed at the prospect of the news of the shipment, disregarding their earlier failure and her injury in order to focus on keeping Norman alive. Norman meanwhile is wreaked by shame at causing Emma to worry so desperately and his own will to keep on living. Faced with the prospect of having to lose Emma or Ray or his entire family vs his will to keep living, he comes to the decision of using the remainder of his final moments to overturn Mama's plans. Emma and Ray on the other hand insist on saving Norman instead against his wishes with Emma stating anything else is better than him dying and frantically begs him to live with them to which he finally gives in.

After Norman's escape fails due to the presence of a large cliff, Emma and Ray aguishly question him to which he reveals his intention hadn't even been to escape in the first place but to investigate the walls and come up with a planned structure to aid in the escape of the rest of the house. After an emotional hug and thank you with his two best friends, Norman prepares for his impending fate. On his way to the door, Norman thinks back to his to friends and settles on Emma's plea to "wanting him to be a part of their everybody" to which he blushes lightly, touched by how deeply she apparently cared for him. During his shipment, Norman says his goodbyes to the other children in the house meanwhile Emma desperately insists on saving Norman to a dejected Ray and becomes even more anguished at the realization of how scared Norman must be despite not outwardly showing it.

The two come face to face with Emma still visibly distressed as she rationalizes his actions but still outright refuses to let him go and tackles him in a hug as a last resort diversion to help Norman escape, nearly putting their entire plan in danger in the process. Shocked, Norman prevents Emma from injuring her leg further just in time and scolds her for being reckless to which Emma vehemently states that she can't let him go. With a heavy-heart, Norman quietly questions Emma on why she won't respect his wish and focus on the bigger picture instead but Emma retorts saying the idea of letting him die is the one and only wish she outright refuses to ever respect, even more so because in reality it isn't even what he wants for himself to which Norman stares in wide-eyed retrospection as he recalls his own words. Norman laments on Emma's flaws and stubborn nature but can't help but be charmed by the positive traits that make him deeply admire her nonetheless. Heavily touched by how profoundly she cared about him and stating that that alone made him feel incredibly grateful for his life, she being the reason why he continued to smile despite feeling fear and pain and the reason why he could continue to smile in that moment and reaches out to softly cup the side of her face as Emma stared back miserably just as they are interrupted by Mama Isabella.

Emma continues to persist but is icily shut down by Mama Isabella who insists she gives up. Norman says his last goodbye to a devastated Emma, encouraging her to take care of herself and succeed in her plan. He gives her a re-assuring hug with his final words to her being to never lose hope. Emma, on the verge of tears, silently apologizes to Norman for being unable to see him off with a smile as he finally leaves the house towards impending death and thanks him for everything he's done and for being himself. The day after Norman's shipment both Emma and Ray are seen to have falling into a state of depression as Emma is continuously reminded of Norman's absence throughout her day. After Ray hopelessly opts out of the plan, Emma laments on her bed on what she should do next realizing that she was always able to work hard because Norman was by her side as she continuous to berate herself. Wishing desperately for Norman's presence and lamenting on her broken leg and heavy heart.

Isabella appears out of the blue and manipulatively coaxes Emma, stating that she lost everything including her moral support and it was best to give into despair. Emma, anguished by her words, thinks back to all her friends and Norman's final words to her "Never give up" and refuses the offer to which she is left to grovel in her thoughts. Emma and Ray are revealed to have still been pursuing an escape plan as Ray states that Emma never really gave up, a statement she confirms as she thinks back to all the times she mustered strength to continue on for Norman's sake

Norman is revealed to have planned out and entrusted an escape plan to Emma and the rest of the kids all of which is written down as a letter and delivered to Emma by Don and Gilda. He encourages Emma, truly believing she can carry out the plan and telling her to please take care of Ray and the rest of their family. Emma lights a match and utters "Let's begin, Norman" as she sets the house ablaze.

It is revealed yet again that Emma chimed in the idea of making the older kids aware of what was going on to Norman and the two had been working together with the others behind Ray's back after becoming aware of his self-destructive plan. Emma envisions Norman giving her a push of encouragement as she stares at the wall and smiles before springing back into action.

Ray envisions Norman next to him and Norman tells him even though he was doubtful of the plan coming into fruition they had Emma on their side and he wholeheartedly believed she was capable of saving their family, assuring Ray that he doesn't need to give up.

Promised Forest/BO6-32 Shelter Arc
After the kids successfully escape into a forest, Emma cheerfully calls out Norman's name to herself as they run to safety. After meeting two friendly demons in the forest (Mujika and Sonju) Emma asks Sonju to teach her how to hunt to which he obliges. She's introduced to the vida plant and thinks back to all the family she lost, becoming more visibly distressed as she thinks back to Norman. Later, she bonds with Mujika, showing her pictures of the kids and stops on one of Norman, introducing him and stating that she'll never forget her promise to him and will fulfill it no matter what.

Emma watches as everyone settles into the new shelter and somberly remarks to Ray that she misses the kids they left behind and Norman.Some time later, while trying to convince Yuugo to be less hostile towards them, Emma tells him that she can relate to him because she and Ray lost someone important to them too, an irreplaceable best friend. She remarks that he entrusted everything to her that's why she'll continue to push forward no matter how hard it gets for his sake too and she'll continue to live for the both of them.

Goldypond Arc
Norman is revealed to be in a high facility farm and he somberly mentions missing Emma, Ray and his family as he goes through his daily procedures before vowing to stay alive and meet them once again.

After receiving a fatal injury from Lewis, Emma hallucinates Norman at her lowest point, whispering some otherwise unknown words to her as he entwines his fingers with hers and helps her coming back to consciousness.

The King of Paradise Arc
Emma enters the office of William Minerva and stands dumbfounded with a single tear in her eye as she comes face to face with Norman. She calls out his name, still in disbelief as to whether it really was him and he excitedly calls out her name which leads to Emma's face contorting and immediately breaking down in tears for the first time since his shipment. Emma drops the Minerva pen and both run towards each other. Emma continuous to cry hysterically as she begins to think to herself, how often she dreamt of a world were Norman could be alive and how many things she regretted and how she nearly fell into despair. She laments on how hard it was but proudly silently thinks to Norman and how for him she never gave up.

The two embrace fully as Norman expresses relief at seeing her alive. Emma continuous crying in disbelief and cups his face with both hands as she insists he assure her that it's really him. Norman briefly explains were he had been all that time before cupping the side of her face with his hand but instantly realizes her ear was cut off. Emma reassures him happily and introduces him to all the kids they gathered on their journey.

After sometime, Norman guided the group of orphans to the hideout's dormitory and had dinner with them. Norman, Emma and Ray bonded over a game of chess before falling asleep on one another.

Post-canon
After reuniting and deciding to live on together, Emma's family move in with her and Grandfather Alex in the mountains, after expanding the house. However, they rotate in groups while staying over, so that everyone can hang out with Emma equally and not overwhelm her with the big quantity of kids around. Nonetheless, Norman and the Grace Field kids seem to be around her pretty often, almost permanently as implied in the fourth novel. After spending more time together, Norman and the other kids organise a trip around the world so that they can fulfill all their biggest dreams they had in Grace Field.

At their first stop, Emma wonders how they are able to afford such a thing, plus the incredible plane they showed up with when picking her up. There Ray reveals that it's because of Norman, being the CEO of the new company he founded when arrived to the Human World to cover the life expenses of his family and the search of his friend (Refusing to accept any money from the Ratris). She is impressed, but also frantic as she screams at him to rest when realising that he went searching for her while studying, working as CEO and improving his health. As they travel around, Norman and Emma are seen having fun and laughing together more than once, with Ray looking at them happily. Sometime during their trip the two are seen on a train, spending time while playing cards, between them it's visible a single card: an ace of hearts (Ace of hearts are symbols of the birth of a new, everlasting love.)

Right after, they stop to see Sagrada Familia, to fullfill Ray's wish. Seeing such a rare expression on his face, Emma is surprised and Norman explains their friend is just really happy. She then remembers Norman didn't write anything on the list for himself and asks him what's his wish. At that question Norman blushes for a moment (more visibly in the draft) and answers that his wish already came true: being with her and Ray. (Putting again aside for future his second wish expressed in the novel). The group proceeds then to their last stop: Savannah. Emma is mesmerized by the giraffes and understands it was probably her own wish. As Norman and Ray confirm, Emma starts feeling sadness over being "alone", as she is the only one not getting totally how much her family really looked forward to the trip and why for Norman it was such a dear moment. She can perhaps recall feelings from their tales and understand, be she will never have a full grasp on it if she doesn't have images to attach them to. Trying to shake those feelings, she exclaim that she wants to ride a giraffe and Norman, followed by everyone else, start laughing. They tell her "Emma is Emma after all", expressing the same exact wish Emma had in the same exact way Emma would, without them informing her about actually wanting to "ride a giraffe" and not just see one. At that, Emma is left emotional and when Norman offers to call and make a reservation in a park where she would be allowed to ride them, Emma eagerly accepts. Finally she happily sends a mental message to her past self, reassuring that she is living with the perfect family the life she wanted, while riding a giraffe and waving at the rest of her friends. Norman is holding a phone in his hand and from the drafts showed but was then uncompleted or left behind, he was taking a picture of Emma.

The chapter was released with a bonus artwork showing the group posing for a photo that Alex is putting on a wall, alongside other new ones. In it, we can see Emma waving happily, while her head is bumping into Norman's, who's equally happy.

Kaiu Shirai
Kaiu Shirai, the writer and author of the story, proved more than once to be a supporter of the ship, confirming multiple times about Norman's feelings and is known to bring the bond between the two up during interviews or comments even when it's not been asked. He also declarated that he wishes for Emma to reciprocate.

More specifically, some of his stances:


 * He commented the first novel "Norman's letter" and said that he cried at the final 4 paragraphs of the last chapter, where Norman says he always loved Emma and decides to not write it in the letter he left her.
 * He mentioned more than once that Norman's feelings are romantic.
 * During one of the first interviews where he stated it, Shirai said that Norman's feelings for Emma are a mix of admiration and romantical love, so it's a complicate feeling and it goes deeper than a boy simply loving a girl.
 * Then it was repeated in the fanbook where he stated that while fans can take their own interpretation, he knows the true nature of the feeling and once again reminded that even for them, it would the best to pick up both his admiration and romantical love feelings for Emma.
 * The answer was then given in an interview with Kobayashi. Kaiu Shirai, in said interview (35:59), mentioned that while Norman and Emma are not a hero and heroine, he wishes for Norman's love to be reciprocated by Emma, implying they're most likely going to get together in future post-canon, as it's the author's own desire. When he defined Norman's love he used the word "Koi" ( 恋 ), which is exclusively used for romantic love.
 * Shirai stated in an interview that he couldn't write Emma and Norman's relationship too romantic ("like that") and implied he had to tone it down due to the editor being against focusing on romance.
 * He commented on WSJ issue 45 about the anime ending songs "Zettai Zetsumei" and "Lamp" being about his (Norman's) story and picking up his feelings. Both seeming to parallel Norman and Emma's relationship and thoughts.
 * Kaiu Shirai described NorEmma as Emma being the knight and Norman being her white horse that brings her to victory. However, he also said that if he were to represent Norman as the prince, Emma would be the princess.
 * During another interview in occasion of the release of a new colored illustration, Shirai answered, to someone questioning if the theory of Norman looking always at Emma in colored drawings was true, that while Norman loves Emma a lot, that one (unclear if he meant the whole theory or the specific illustration) might be a coincidence.
 * He used NorEmma's japanese ship name in one of the manga drafts shown at the Exposition in Japan. It could be just to abbreviate, but it's still an interesting hint.

Editor Sugita and Demizu Posuka
While the original author it's a supporter of the ship, both his editor Sugita and his artist Demizu Posuka showed to have conflicting feelings about its romantical nature, sometimes seeming to be okay with it, but other times being against it.


 * While Norman's feeling for Emma have been an idea Shirai seemed to be enthusiastic about, he wasn't the one coming up with it. As stated in Mystic Code fanbook, he was struggling with finding a reason why Norman would go to such lengths for Emma and Sugita just said offhandly to make him in love with her. And the idea fit so much for the author that he sticked with it, but it was born in the first place by his editor.
 * Shirai mentioned, jokingly, how the editor would barge in the room screaming "NO romance" if he added too romantic tones to Norman and Emma.
 * Sugita's apparent dislike towards the ship was also implied in an interview made to the anime cast, whom declared that when asked to Sugita how to portray those feelings showed in the manga he aswered that they weren't romantic. Althought, continuing the writing and scripting the anime cast re-approached him saying that by episode 10 it was impossible to believe there wasn't romance and insisted on it being present. At that, the editor said it was fine to include it.
 * Posuka Demizu gave the in-put for some moments between the two like the string phone, which was her idea and it's possible, as seen from the drafts, that some symbolic details or blushes were added, just like some were lessened.
 * Both Sugita and Posuka mentioned that they don't think those feelings are necessary between Norman and Emma. Sugita mentioned it in the fanbook, where Shirai then contraddicted him and said that it's good to pick up both admiration and romance. While Demizu mentioned it two times; in an interview on a booklet and in the Kobayashi interview, the same where the author stated his wish for them their feelings to be fullfilled. However, even with Sugita being the editor and Demizu being the artist, the author and writer of the story and they stated their personal taste, it's Kaiu Shirai and his view on the manga the most important one.

Trivia

 * A survey was done on which ship was the best, and NorEmma is on 24th place.
 * Speculations about Emma's feelings were often made by fans of the ship, in the italian version of the 2nd story of the 1st novel " The Day Emma Cried ", it's said that Emma views Norman as more than just a brother or friend. Due to it not being present in the original Japanese text, it's not a solid proof. However, even if Kaiu Shirai never outright mentioned the nature of Emma's feelings, he implied in an interview by Kobayashi that Emma will probably reciprocate Norman in future.
 * It seems that Emma's voice actor in the anime, Sumire Morohoshi, ships NorEmma too, as she is often fangirling about Norman and his relationship with Emma during radios events. This could be, thought, just her own appreciation towards Norman's character and using Emma as a channel to it.
 * It's speculated that the company VIZ's main translator or social media manager, company that officially translates The Promised Neverland in English and sponsors the anime, doesn't like the idea of romantic feelings between Norman and Emma, as they made some posts leading to not liking Norman as a character and liking Ray and Emma more together and translated Norman's confession in chapter 4 into "I care about her" when the literal translation could only say "I like/love her". However, in a following phrase the term "like" is used and so in chapter 179 in Norman's flashback, so it's a mere speculation still and there are no proofs of them not liking NorEmma specifically.
 * Norman has been crushing on Emma since they were 4 years old, as showed in the flashback of how the string phone came to be.
 * Norman and Emma's IDs made a cameo in Me and Roboco ch. 23, on Roboco's underwear back and front.
 * Norman and Emma's photo appeared in a panel of Kaiu Shirai's one-shot "Spirit photographer: Saburo Kono".
 * Norman and Emma made a cameo in the background of a chapter from Kaguya-Sama's manga two times, seen holding hands and standing as couple between many others.
 * Shirai sees Posuka to be a combination of Emma and Norman (70%Norman+ 30% Emma).
 * For a Shonen Jump voting poll for the new profile pic of the official Twitter account one of the options was a cropped pic of Norman and Emma only, as TPN themed option.
 * Norman and Emma are represented in cute, possibly romantic, moments in merch and promotional art.
 * Charms with Norman and Emma talking through string phone.
 * An official poster for the Identity V game event features a kid drawing of Norman and Emma holding hands.
 * The Norman Nendoroid has a face option with him blushing and a sting phone that can be added in pair with Emma. Also as bonus for the pre-orders of Norman's nendo, and who owns Emma's already too, a piece of two hands joined was added in the package. The skin of the hands are the exact same of Norman and Emma's nendoroids and were made specifically to be attached the two characters' arm and link them.
 * In the cover illustration for Mahou, we can see Norman, Ray and Emma laying down. While all three seem to be wanting to hold hands, Norman is laying his head on Emma's stomach.
 * One of the animators of season 2 drew Norman and Emma holding hands while being back to back.
 * Kazé, the publisher of The Promised Neverland in France, for Saint Valentine made a tweet with Norman's confession about his feelings for Emma.
 * While Norman's actor for the Japanese live-action movie, Rihito Itakagi, doesn't think of NorEmma as romantic, the movie has some hints not present in the manga, like Ray grinning at Norman's embarrassment when admitting he did everything for Emma or the cups having Norman and Emma's initials on them. Also, it's been found weird that only Norman and Emma's actors are late teens and even in the story depicted as the oldest of the kids group, while Ray was left younger even in the script.
 * In the manga Ray seems shocked about Norman's feelings, or at least not that aware. Thought, it might be just the surprise on how much Norman was willing to go for his crush, since in the fourth tale of the first novel it's implied that Ray knows already and even makes fun of Norman for it.
 * In the sketches for the concept of volume 14 cover, there are featured two options with Norman and Emma together. One had Norman covering Emma's sleeping form with his cape, while the second had Emma and Norman back to back, with his cape becoming an umbrella she's using to cover herself from the rain. Emma is smiling while she watches her younger self's reflection in a puddle, who is sadly looking towards Norman's younger reflection, who is still facing away. Sadly, both were scrapped and never finished.
 * In the cover of the artbook "Artbook World", between the various portrays, there is one of Norman and Emma riding a giraffe together.
 * As stated in the volume 9 commentary by Shirai, if the cover and sub-cover of the volume are put together, you can see Norman trying to replace Emma's gun with a baloon, their hands touching.
 * Volume 14 cover, with Norman sending an owl, can be paired up with an illustration where Emma receives them on her arms. Also cover B of volume 14 shows Emma walking alone towards a mysterious road and for the portrayal it seems to be another parallel picture. Owls in japanese are symbol of guidance, protection and romantical love.
 * Norman is seen blushing at Emma in multiple scenes between the manga and the extras. In some scenes, Emma seem to blush too, but it's less understandable as the situations are not outright romantic themed and Posuka use similar ink traces to express overjoy and emotional expressions. In these cases it's usually more understandable which was the intention when looking at Shirai's drafts of the scenes.
 * In Chapter 181, the last one aside the extras, Norman and Emma are holding hands in one of the last spreads, with Ray placing his one and keeping them joined. In the volume version, while Norman and Emma have the biggest blushes, also the other characters have some emotional blush. However, in the magazine version and Shirai's original draft only Norman and Emma are blushing.
 * In the manga parody "Oyakusoku no Neverland", Norman's love is taken exaggerately (due to the parody taking elements and changing them or making them extreme) and becomes almost pervert-like. It's a recurrent gag that he only thinks about Emma and she is creeped out. In one scene of the chapter dedicated to the live-action adaptation, he imagines the two of them kissing.
 * In chapter 121 the final panel shows Emma and Ray sleeping on Norman's shoulders. As explained by Shirai in a promotional comic, Norman's name was decided by Isabella because she was looking at Norman Rockwell's paintings and the panel in chapter 121 is inspired by one of them. Specifically, it's a self-portray of Rockwell, sleeping with his wife and son laying on him. For the disposition, Norman is playing the painter, Emma is playing the role of the wife and Ray of their son.
 * Apparently, even in the original draft of the manga, where Ray died and Emma escaped alone without any sibling, she was bound to meet Norman and her heart guided her at East, where she would find the shelter and she would be the only one to recognise him, despite how much he changed over the years.
 * Two times Emma and Norman had Heart Symbol cards between them specifically
 * Chapter 121: When the trio is sleeping on one another, referencing the Rockwell's painting where Norman and Emma play the husband and wife. Between the two, on the ground, the most visible card is a 2 of hearts, which in cartomancy and tarot language means finding your lover, enstablishing and confirming it's been found or implying it's very close by.
 * Extra chapter "Dreams come true": Norman and Emma are playing cards on the train and between them on the ground there is an Ace of hearts. Its meaning is breakthrough in feelings, declaration of love and wedding, but it mostly represents the "birth of a new everlasting love". For married couples it means prosperity at home. The card wasn't in the originally draft and more kids were playing with Norman and Emma, in the definitive version it was changed, so it can imply that it's a symbol put on purpose.
 * Everytime Norman and Emma argued, they were holding hands.

Fanon
NorEmma started gaining popularity in chapter 4 of the manga were Norman confessed to loving Emma and picked up in pace during the goodbye chapters of Emma and Norman. The anime release coincided with Norman's return in the manga which thus lead to a blowup in popularity and fan-content. The cup-phone from one of the side story is frequently used in most fanart as well as various depictions of scenes from the side novel. Other popular prompts are scars, owls or other general angsty themes.

From various unofficial fan polls, it seems that NorEmma is more shipped in eastern countries, where it's the most popular ship, while western fandom prefers RayEmma.

The NorEmma ship is also the most popular on Archive Of Our Own, with 1015 fanfictions written in total and 771 without one-sided attraction, triangles and poly-relationships.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Norman/Emma tag on FanFiction.net
 * Norman/Emma tag on FanFiction.net

TUMBLR

NorEmma tag on Tumblr

FAN ART

Norman/Emma tag on Pixiv

UNOFFICIAL EVENTS

Noremma Corner (Organisator of events such Noremma week/month, Big Bang, Valentine, Summer and Winter events etc...):


 * Twitter
 * Tumblr
 * Instagram
 * DeviantArt

Variations

 * Full Score Trio refers to the ship between the two and Ray