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. Norman showed signs of having already a crush on her back then, blushing at her attempts to stay close to him.

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 leads 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 house, the two run and once they're distant enough Emma tries to get Norman to deny what they've seen, only to have him admitting that sadly the one they saw was indeed their dead sister. Norman comforts her desperate cries, holding her in his arms and keeps his own fear and despair in control as he reassures her with a smile that they would escape all together as she wishes. Realising that Norman smiled because she cried, she promises she wouldn't cry anymore for the situation and would be strong like him too.

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, after the first investigations and confirming their mother is the enemy, they decide to enlist the help of their shared mutual best friend Ray (who had been listening all along their conversation about the matter). After a disagreement among the trio about bringing the younger kids with them in the escape, Ray questions Norman (after dragging him away from Emma) on why he decided to go along with her plan despite being the most rational one among them. Norman says that Emma is amazing because while he was afraid for himself she was for their family and responds that she he's doing all of that because he is in love with Emma and wants to do the things that will make her happy. Ray says that he is crazy and asks him what he'll do if Emma gets killed for it but Norman replies by vowing to protect her at all costs, even if it jeopardizes his own safety.

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, admiring Emma more and more, 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. For a long time he feels the pressure of being able to keep everyone safe and assuring Emma's goal is reached, without his friends paying for it, all along insisting that he wants to be like her. 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, revealing herself for who she really is and gives the duo an ultimatum. She wants them to give up and live the rest of their days in peace, accepting their fate. 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. She doesn't care anymore about the plan in that moment, she only wants to not lose Norman.

Norman meanwhile is wreaked by shame at causing Emma to worry so desperately about him 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 desire to survive, he comes to the decision of making the most of the time he has left to overturn Mama's plans. Emma and Ray on the other hand insist on saving Norman instead, going against his wishes with Emma stating anything else is better than him dying and frantically begging him to live with them to which he finally gives in.

After Norman's escape fails due to the presence of a large cliff after the wall, 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. He never planned to save himself and lied all along about being on board with attempting to save his own life after being told he would be shipped out. After an emotional hug with his two best friends and a thank you, 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. He reaches out to softly cups the side of her face as Emma stares 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, threatening to kill her. 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 being about 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 and keeps searching with her eyes and ears around for him. 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, insisting that without him she can't make it. She keeps 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. Isabella probably relates to Emma's situation as she lost too the one she loved soon before finding out about the farm as a kid, so she offers Emma to become a Mama like her. 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. She is then 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 his dearest Emma, truly believing she can carry out the plan and telling her to please take care of Ray and the rest of their family, sending her to tears for the last time in years. After convincing Ray to follow the plan and survive, 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.

Meanwhile, Emma is kidnapped and taken intp Goldy Pond, where she meets other kids and find the golden water and a message from Minerva. She settles on ending that park and get away from there with all the kids, being obligated to go on a face off against Lewis. During the final part of the fight, she receives a fatal injury from Lewis and falls on the ground unconscious. She is at her lowest post, slowly descending towards death. However, in the deepest of her heart, she hallucinates Norman, whispering some unknown words to her as he interwines his fingers with hers and helps her coming back to consciousness. Eventually they manage to kill Lewis (or so they think), get away with everyone and destroy the hunting park. Emma is taken to the shelter by Yuugo for emergency cures and wakes up weeks later.

It's discovered that Emma showed around to the new kids the pic of her and Norman and talked to them about him in the following 2 years of search for the Seven Walls.

Cuvitidala Arc
Andrew and his squad attacks the shelter where Emma's family lives and the kids are obligated to run away for safety. In the attempt to survive, some kids are killed, Chris is injured and to let the children escape Yuugo and Lucas sacrifice and get killed. A barely alive and mad Andrew finds them and tries to kill them once again, but he is eaten by a wild demon.

Later, after meeting with Hayato and Jin, who were sent by Minerva to search after them, Emma, Anna and the others try to raid a farm to get the medicine for Chris, who is in grave conditions. Emma is almost eaten by a demon, but she is saved by Zazie, a fellow companion of Hayato and another help sent by their boss Minerva.

The King of Paradise Arc
Emma is very excited to meet Minerva and is supported by her friends to follow Hayato towards his office, as he requested to meet her alone first. Emma enters and stands dumbfounded with a single tear in her eye as she comes face to face with Norman and he tells her that they finally could meet. 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 cupping his face with both hands as she insists in checking that it's truly him. He assure her that it is and that he missed her a lot. Norman briefly explains were he had been all that time before cupping the side of her face with his hand and instantly realizing her ear was cut off. Emma reassures him happily and introduces him to all the kids they gathered on their journey.

After a conversation where Norman reveals more details about what Lambda was and what his goal is, showing that he was inspired by Emma for it and kept her words close to heart, he guides the group of orphans to the hideout's dormitory and has dinner with them. Norman, Emma and Ray play together again to various games until they fall asleep on one another.

The following morning Emma wakes up in her bed and she is told that Norman was nowhere to be seen when her and Ray were carried back to bed by the Goldy Pond gang. For the whole day she keeps being tomented by her doubts about his plan until Ray convinces her to talk to their friend about it so they can try to find a solution that doesn't imply eradicating all the demons. Norman had a whole different experience with them, while Emma and the rest of her family was able to see also their nice and "human" side, plus it was possible he wouldn't know about exceptions like Mujika and Sonju, who don't need human meat to keep their form. Talking to him and be open about their feelings was the best option. Since Norman is out for a meeting with Geelan, Emma and Ray meet first the Lambda gang. Cislo, Barbara and Vincent introduce themselves and start a conversation with the two young teens, being curious since they are the boss's childhood friends. Their talk shifts to how Norman was for Emma and Ray and how he is now for his subordinates, showing how they consider him cold, like an emperor, and Emma instead views him as a kind, smart person with such a soft smile. As they share tales of the past and reveals funny secrets about Norman's childhood, Emma wonders if he changed that much after all. Eventually, Barbara let slip more of her hatred towards demons and Emma gets scared enough that it's noticed she isn't of the same idea, causing a rift between the two groups, even if they still consider each others "friends". After Norman returns, Emma and Ray right away confront him and just like he explains that his plan is to cause a civil war between demons, they tell him about Mujika and Sonju. Norman is shocked because he thought Mujika was dead, knowing about her from some old demons notes. He comments that they need to kill both demons because even if he could spare them for saving Emma and the family, they wouldn't agree surely to the eradication and would intervene, putting at risk the plan. Emma, panicking, then says that maybe they don't need then to proceed with such a plan and that in truth, she doesn't want to follow that path. Norman tries to act in understanding way, but also tries to make Emma see why her proposals can't work. She doesn't have a plan, so she grabs onto every idea that comes to her mind, being shot down easily by Norman that counter everything. Even giving out Mujika's blood and taking down only the royals and aristocrats wouldn't mean the kids would be safe because someone doesn't stop eating their favourite food just because they don't have to. The same way, they can't just go to the human world risking to not be accepted. Norman is sure that they have no future if they don't kill all the demons.

Emma expresses further more her ideology and how she wouldn't be able to smile anymore if the world she lived in was built on the blood of innocents and friends like Mujika and Sonju. At that point, Norman listens more to her new plan, a combination of both his and Emma's views, even being hesitant on putting trust in the Seven Walls, a concept that seem just a fairy tale. Emma reveals she already knows how to get there and says that she will go first and forge the promise, so that then he can see her plan is really possible and with no real risks of losing more human lives in a possible war. However, as Ray reveals that no one came back from there and it's possible she doesn't either, Norman panics and tries to convince her out of a crazy adventure, fearing to lose her. She manages to calm him down, saying that her burdens would still be much lighter than his, who is trying to act like a God for everyone and has the entire human kind of that world on his shoulders. She hugs him and tells that he doesn't need to be a God because she wants him to open up and not have him walking away on his own again, with the possibility of losing him. Norman is close to return the hug and open up, but pull back, leaving Emma concerned and with a fake smile assuring that he wouldn't go anywhere again. He then says that while he understands what she is feeling, he can't help what he does feel either and that he can't stop or delay the plan nor wait for her. The only think he can do is proceed and think about her plan once she is back, if she returns before he killed the royals and aristocrats. She agrees and thank him, saying it's enough for her. Norman then makes sure Ray is going to look after her and asks them to come back safely. Norman and Emma hold hands once more (after the various times during the argument) and big goodbye to each other. Once outside his room, Emma says that she finally found clarity and won't waver anymore, because her goal is to not let Norman be alone ever again. As Norman too is left alone in his room thinking back of his talk with back and feeling doubt rise inside him. To interrupt his thoughts, Zazie arrives and brings him to a secret room with a giant demon used for experiments and anger relief by the Lambda gang. Norman reveals to them about Mujika and Sonju, casing Barbara to fall into a spiral about their past and how their view of demons can't be the wrong one compared to Emma's, sending then her through a spasms attack. Vincent assists her and reveals that the experiments done on them are showing more after effects and that perhaps they don't have much left. Cislo adds that while Emma and the other kids are super nice, they can be naive and begs Norman to say that he is still on Lambda's side and not wavering. At that sight, Norman finds again his determination and confirms that he is not, thinking back at how far he had to go and how he started everything and now had to carry everyone's safety on his back. He concludes thinking about Emma and that if it means keeping everyone safe, he will gladly become either a God or a devil.

Emma meanwhile explains her plan to the family, which reacts in various ways, from understanding like Don and the younger kids, to not understanding like Gillian and Gilda, whom don't want to risk losing more kids and Emma. The leader of the group, seeing their pain, tries to make them understand that the reason she is doing all of this it's still selfish but it's not about the burden of living a world where she let demons be eradicated, it's about Norman killing his own heart and suffering. She can see his sufference and doesn't want to end up like for the escape, where they failed to save him. That finally convinces Gilda and the others to support Emma, whom asks them to take care of Norman in her absence.

The Seven Walls Arc
As Emma and Ray departs and start traveling into the Seven Walls, Norman continues his plan and sends Gilda and Don, accompanied by Hayato and Ayshe, as bait to find and kill Mujika and Sonju. Both Norman and Emma keep going on with their opposite paths, with each other in mind as motivation. Norman, albeit showing often signs of wavering, is willing to be a monster and suffer alone as long as Emma will be able to live with everyone else and will have a chance to be happy. She, instead, is willing to do anything to stop him and prevent his suffering, vowing to fullfill her plan so that she won't have to let go of him ever again.

Gilda and Don find Mujika and Sonju, but soon find out that Norman is probably not willing to listen to Emma at all, as they witness seizures from the Lambda kids. Suspecting that Norman is probably affected too, and wishing to save him, they decide to head to the capital, where he is setting in motion his plan. Emma too meanwhile has returned after sealing the new promise, and finds out about Norman's plan to poison all the civilians in the capital. Knowing that they won't arrive in time for the Tifari and before the war starts if they travel by walk, the Goldy Pond kids offer to escort them with the horses they just learnt to ride. Emma asks why they're helping, especially since she knows that Gillian wasn't really on board with her plan, but the friend admits that while she hates demons, will kill them if she needs to and wants to protect her family, she also wants to help Emma helping Norman. Norman is preparing the last details before the day of the attack and after an encouragement discourse to his fellow companions, he takes a moment of privacy. Thinking back with sorrow at Emma and Ray, he seems to waver once again. His doubts quickly are stopped again, but this time by a seizure of his own, making him cough blood and apologize to his friends in his heart.

The Capital Arc
The attack to the capital begins, Geelan defeats most of the royals and aristocrats, while Emma and Ray reunites with Gilda, Don, Hayato, Mujika, Sonju and Ayshe. After exchanging infos and deciding how to split, Gilda stops Emma before she leaves for the castle, informing her about the Lambda sickness and probably rising the suspicion that Norman could be affected too. Emma thinks back about Norman being alone and sick in bed as a kid and says she is coming for him. Geelan is defeated by the queen, the sole survivor with her court maids and Iverk. Before they can start eating any corpse to gain energy, the Lambda's squad attacks and albeit with some difficulties, manages to take down all the remaining demons thanks to the poison starting to make effects, in and outside the castle.

Before killing Iverk, Norman imagines himself alone in darkness and a kid Emma grabbing onto his cape to cry over it, while also a kid Norman looks at him on the verge of tears. Emma finally arrives and finds a mass of corpses and Norman greets her sadly saying she unfortunately she was too late. Emma is horrified, but that doesn't make her waver as she informs Norman that she made the promise and they can now fullfill her plan and he doesn't need to fight anymore. He is too set on his plan by now and resigned to it being the only way, saying that it's impossible now to go back, but she insists that she promised she wouldn't let him kill himself anymore nor be alone. He says that he told her already he wouldn't go anywhere but she right away accuse him of lying, that she can see through him and that she knows he doesn't want to go for the killing path, but his kindness and smart nature make him go onto drastic roads that makes him isolate himself. She also says that what she is seeing is a small child shaking in fear, which makes him think that indeed he was scared for so long but he had to push on and on for everyone's sake. Realising that he is getting more vulnerable, he tells her to not come any closer, but she refuse, saying this time she'll never let him go and walks to him. She takes his hand and says that while he is the kindest and strongest person she knows, he is also arrogant and cowards. Then, she begs him to bear his pain and burdens with them because he is not alone and tells him that he doesn't need to protect her because she wants to walk alongside him. He backs away in shame, saying he doesn't deserve to walk alongside them because he went on a dark path, but Emma and Ray console him saying that they know all about the poison, his attempt to kill Mujika and Sonju and about the basement with the giant demon. Yet, she insists that they can fix things and that it can be weak if it's the real him. They should cry, laugh and struggle together... live together. Finally Norman accepts Emma's offered hand and jumps into hugging them, saying how much he wants to live, but soon falling to the ground and saying he can't because he doesn't have much time left. He begs his best friends to help him as he cries for the first time ever in the manga, revealing that he is sick as well and that he advanced to the fourth stage, shocking the Lambda gang. Emma and Ray ask for confirmation about that being his last secret and asking what he really wants. He confesses he followed such a gruesome plan because it was the only one that would be certain in the short run, since he doesn't have much left. Also he doesn't regret killing the royals and aristocrats but that he wants to stop any more killing. He wants to save all the kids and himself too but doesn't want to lean on killing for it. Emma reassures that then they will do all of it somehow and they will together, hugging him once again. Vincent doesn't take well Norman backing down from his plan, but the rest of the gang, Cislo in particular, understands that they used Norman as pawn as well for their revenge and that they really care about him so he is more important than killing the demons. If he wants to back down they'll follow. Emma then reveals they suspected already about Norman being sick, after Gilda told them about what happened in the forest, but also they told him that Adam never had seizures even coming from Lambda, so they got Anna and Zack looking into it to find a possible cure and save everyone affected. Then she proposes to split, having Norman and the army go back to the base because they saw soldiers searching it, while her, Ray and the others would handle the situation in the town. Norman doesn't want to leave them but agrees, starting also to figure out how the soldiers found the path towards the shelter. Their talk is soon interrupted by the corpse of the queen rising up behind Norman and aiming to bite him. Norman, even being the prime target, pushes Emma away to safety, but is then saved by Cislo, whom jumps in the way to protect him and gets his leg bitten off. Reglavalima starts rampaging and going crazy, with her body being unstable due to the regeneration (allowed by her secret second core) and the poison. Lambda gang, aside Zazie, escape intimated by Norman, who remains to fight Reglavalima with Emma and Ray. Right when she is about to take the latter two, after putting out of commission Zazie, Sonju arrives and saves them. Mujika admits that while they may had a chance to negotiate with Iverk and Lord Pupo, they would never with Reglavalima. Sonju has a show off with the queen, but when he reaches a difficult point Mujika comes in and talks about Reglavalima's greed, that eventually leads her to manifest indegestion as she ends up being consumed by the lives she overate. With the fight over, Mujika tells them to go over the shelter and let the demons deal with their own problems. Emma thank her and Sonju, saying that she thought about death (making Norman uncomfortable and and then unsettled once more with being in front of the two demons for his actions) and how she would be okay to be eaten by Mujika and Sonju if she really had to die. The Grace Field trio reunites with Gilda and the others, with Norman being welcomed back by her and Don and then him saying something mysterious in demon language to Ayshe. But once they arrive to the shelter, they find out that Peter Ratri attacked and took all the kids and brought them to Grace Field, awaiting with a trap. Everyone is worried and thinking the worst of the situation, but Emma encourages them to think positively instead and work together to find a solution, taking Norman's hands and pointing out that now they have him and they are stronger working as a team.

Norman laughs aloud saying that when it's her saying that, it seems really possible and everyone joins with the optimism. Norman then looks at her and start reminishing his feeling for her while blushing and remembering how it was to follow her and work all together. He then joins actively and happily the planning, with Ray slapping his head a bit and then Norman and Emma's positive determination shining out of them as they cheer together.

Grace Field Raid Arc
The whole gang that escaped the capture inflitrates Grace Field and tries to take over, with the trio now acting as a whole organ again. Eventually they manage to take Peter as prisoner, but upon his attempted escape and Emma trying to convince him to join them to stop the hatred chain, he commits suicide. Isabella is convinced to join them after all the farms will be saved, but Mujika becoming queen and abolishing the farms, there is no need to do that anymore. Everyone rejoices, but after meeting back with Phil and the younger siblings again, a demon attacks and Isabella gets injured while trying to protect Emma. With a painful and heartfelt goodbye, Isabella dies.

Emma reunites with Mujika and since there's no need to save the farms anymore, they reach the golden water under Grace Field, prepared to implement the promise. Emma reveals that there is no reward to give for the promise, to which initially her family doesn't believe her. Norman says that if it concerns her sacrificing they will just stay in the demons world, making her struggle to convince she is saying the truth and that they have no choice cause as Norman brought up time ago, the demons could still seek to hunt humans for the pure pleasure of their taste. But she says that whether Him has ulterior motives and whether the rewards consists in the difficulties they'll face in the human world, they'll surpass obstacles together. After convincing everyone, she implement the promise and everyone is transported to the human world.

Human World Arc
Everyone starts to wake up in front of what should be the New York of the future. Their cheers are soon interrupted as Phil realises that Emma, whom he was holding hands with when they crossed, is not there. Norman right away collapse with daunting fear as Ray starts regretting trusting Emma on the reward thing. Norman too starts spiraling, wondering how he could be so careless, thinking back at his romantical feelings for her and the moment he confessed to Ray that he loves her and would do anything to protect her. He also gets angry as Emma made efforts to convince him to not sacrifice himself but then did it herself and even left him alone to deal with what she promised to do together. Mike Ratri, uncle of Peter, then reaches out to them and brings them to a secluded space, explaining that from 2020 to 2030 there was a war in human world and that brought people to cease most hostilities and work as one singular nation. Pollution lowered, war ceased and most of the worst problems were solved. Norman expressed how they're lucky, with a still traumatized expression, to which everyone realises he is still under shock and denial.

Oliver butts in as some kids start encouraging that Emma is one to beat the odds, and asks Norman if it's really important that she is not there or where she is. He replies no as he realises that it doesn't matter as long as he wants to see her, reminding the times she fought to stay with him when he was sick. So they all decide that as she would do, they'll look for her like hide and seek and find her, even if it means they'll have to go back somehow to the demon world, sure that she is still alive. Norman promises that he won't let her be alone and Ray too assures they'll find her. Meanwhile, Emma woke up in a snowy place with no memories of who she is. Her bag has all her possessions for fighting and the picture she took with Norman, but his face is burnt in it and her tatoo on the neck is gone. Not gone are the scars she got but it's not enough to get her recognised probably (as all the kids around the world have some codes to prove they're from demon realm) and it's winter, so the old man she lives with can't bring her to the city yet.

Emma stays with Alex, the old man, in the meantime, but is haunted by dreams about her family, which she either not recognise or forget when waking up, leaving her sad and longing, with her necklace (the one Mujika gave her) making her feel weird. Eventually, she settles with the idea that she won't remember and as time passes she stops dreaming about her family and starts living a new life with her new grandfather. Two years after however, on spring, she goes on a trip with Alex to the village, where she eventually meets her family, due to losing her necklace and Ray being guided towards it by Isabella and Conny's spiritual images. Her family is overjoyed, but Emma gets scared by them, flinching away. They realise the reward was her being separated from them and forgetting everything and to this they start falling into despair. It feels like Emma is really gone.

Norman reaches closer while crying, but instead of acting like everyone else, he expresses gratitude and relief over her being okay. He is happy because she is healthy, taken care of and not alone, she is sleeping and eating well and that's the most important thing. He takes her hands, which she lets him do, and starts explaining how they did those past two years. How everyone from Lambda recovered from the sickness, how the kids started going to school and dedicated to their passions, Chris woke up, Ayshe didn't kill him yet and that the Ratris are their guardians for the moment, even if Norman still can't forgive them. He struggle as he says that she was right and her choice was the best, as everyone is happily working for a bright future, but he laments how she had to give everything of herself for it and he wanted to be with her (something he couldn't admit before). Emma is calmer and thinks that she doesn't know how to act because she doesn't know the guy or everyone else, but then she is hit with a wave of emotions, starting crying and clutching her chest, with the necklace above her hand. She doesn't recall their identities, but she feels strongly about them and feels like she always wanted to meet them, We see a symbolic image of Norman and Ray finding Emma on the beach after their new hide and seek game, starting crying and calling "Found you" (the extra before the chapter had them as kids starting a hide and seek game). Norman recalls how there was a future they wanted, a fate that couldn't be changed and that they fought and never gave up. The rest of the family assures they wanted to see Emma too for so long and she admires how bright they are and how warm they're making her feel. Then Norman then keeps talking, wiping his eyes and taking her hands once more, saying that it's okay that she forgot and it's fine if she is not the same Emma she was before, because they defeated fate multiple time and so they'll do it again forever more. Screw destiny, they will live together. Emma agrees, while still holding hands with Norman and Ray placing his on top of their. Then, we get a time skip with Mujika handling her royal duties and wondering how Emma is doing. We see then Emma running towards her family (apparently, specifically towards Norman), standing in front of the new bigger house in the mountains, symbolising that now they're all living together again.

Post-canon
After reuniting and deciding to live on together, Emma's family moves 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.

Norman's letter.
The whole novel is set during the moment Norman writes his letter for Emma, as he reminish old tales of the past. The first one is their search for the ghost of Grace Field.

The second one focuses around the time they're 6/7, when Norman falls sick badly. During one of their many games outside, a storm starts and the kids are called back by Isabella to get inside the house. Emma loses the handkerchief Isabella gave her, with embroidered her initials, but is pushed by Ray to get back anyway. She is deeply saddened about it, until she realises that Norman didn't come back with them and was still outside under the rain. He soon gets back wet to the bone, but with the handkerchief she lost, having stayed outside to search for it. Emma is thankful, but also sorry and worried about him for what he had to do for her.

After a while, everyone is playing but Norman decides to stay put with Ray, which makes both Emma and Ray suspicious about his conditions. But Ray's inquisition is soon over when Emma tries to climb a tree to get back the ball that ended up between its branches, and ends up falling down. Norman runs towards her and catches her as she fall on him, knocking him unconscious. She is lightly injured with scratches, but barely thinks about herself as she worries over Norman not waking up and burning up. Isabella aids Norman, as Ray takes care of Emma's injuries, whom is too focused on how Norman is doing and guilty about what happened. Not only he got sick because of her, but he also almost got hurt. She tries to calm down and think about using the cups phone again to keep him company, but Isabella reveals that they can't because he is too sick for it, making Emma even more worried.

The following day Emma keeps searching for solutions to help Norman getting better, finding infos about a flower but then focusing on a simple honey and lemon hot beverage. She prepares it and convinces Ray to help her sneak inside Norman's room to give it to him, but as soon as she reaches him she is hit by his conditions. He has an IV into his arm and is helped by an oxygen mask and the sight makes her drop the beverage. She fall on her knees as she clutches the blanket as she apologies for putting him in that state, realising it's not a simple cold. She raises and takes his cold hand, trying to get over the shock while keeping on blaming herself and wishing she could do something. Eventually she has to hide as Isabella comes in to check on Norman. His cough is very bad and Mama comments how "He doesn't have much left", making Emma freak out and think that Norman is going to die.

Not able to stay put anymore, Emma decides to go find the flower she read about to save Norman, refusing to lose him and letting him die, even less for her own mistake. Ray assists her, being as worried, and even Isabella, who discovered their intentions, lets them go to search it outside during night (moment it blooms). As they are searching, Ray asks Emma why would she go to such lengths for Norman, after she injures her hand, and she replies that it's just natural because she would do anything for him. She explains how he always helped her in everything and supported her in any situation, even making her feel supported and cared about in distance, a thing she wants to reciprocate. She feels Norman would do anything for her and would always be her most trusted ally, always counting on having him unconditionately by her side. That's why she wants to do the same for him.

They find the flower just in time, but they discover it's the wrong one. Emma wants to go back searching but Isabella says that it's too late anyway. Panicked and refusing to believe she failed, Emma runs towards the infirmary and finds it empy. Getting scared, she tries to go back to Isabella but she bumps into Norman, who is up and mostly well. He right away asks why she is all dirty and what she did to her hand, taking it to examine it, but she starts crying out of happiness and hugs him. Finding Emma clutching onto Norman while desperately crying, Ray explains what's going on and Isabella reprimands Emma for jumping into conclusions, while Norman comforts her and appreciates her efforts. She tries to convince him it's nothing as he apologies and worries for her injuries, in particular the gash on the hand he's holding. She reassures him that she would do anything to help him, amazing him for how much she cares. Later, he wipes Emma's cheeks from the tears with his sleeve, as he asks her to not do anything like that again, because he would never forgive himself if she got hurt for him. She agrees and then goes to take a shower, leaving Norman surprised for how much she cried and for him. Ray joins in, saying that if he really died Emma wouldn't cry, leaving Norman confused for a moment, until he realised what he meant. Norman dying would mean that Emma would suffer and grieve, which would imply she would cry for herself, for feeling she held about him. But Emma wouldn't want to cry for herself, for her own selfish feelings, only for others, that's why she instead cried in seeing him alive and well after relief kicked in. With this thought in mind he pressed the flower she found for him to his heart.

After finishing this tale, Norman apologies in his head to Emma, for not giving her the chance to grieve and cry his death after he would be shipped out, since the plan didn't allow her breaking down. However, despite how much he wishes she could just let her pain out eventually to be able to move on, he also doesn't want to risk her falling apart over his death.

The last tale is about his 11th birthday. Norman is playing with Emma and Phil as Thoma and Lannion sneak in to try scaring her. Their plan works, but they're disappointed Norman didn't flinch, lamenting that he never gets scared or overly surprised. He says that he does get surprised often by Emma, for her ability to see further what it's obvious. While the kids debate over how Emma would be growing up, if a beautiful lady, a kind mother or else, they mention dreams for the future. Norman look into Emma's eyes as she asks about his wish and gets right away a clear image about it concerning her, but pushes it away and says it's a secret he'll tell one day.

Some time later, Norman starts seeing a mysterious figure in the orphanage, while rumors about a possible 39th girl being around start spreading between the kids. Norman falls deeply into the urge of solving the mystery, suspecting that his siblings know something since they're all acting weird, mostly Emma, even if she and Ray seem to be helping him at times. Norman starts to become obsessed with the mystery, making Ray approach him. Norman denies to be interested in that mysterious girl romantically, even before Ray could even form the question, adding then that he likes someone else. Time passes as Norman start realising that it's all an act that the rest of his family put up, but he discover the reasons only when Isabella brings him to a surprise birthday party. Finally he discovers that Emma was the mysterious girl, admiring her beauty with the coral dress and the longer hair. He is thought emberassed as she acts as her normal self, trying to pull up the gown, exposing too much of what's under it and making him try to lower it down, as Gilda jumps in to assist in stopping her. Norman asks if Emma is wearing a wig, to which she confirms while removing it since it makes her itchy. Then the kids point out how Emma seems the princess from the book they've been reading, the one they took inspiration from for the costumes, and say that they prepared a prince costume for Norman too. It's revealed that it was all Emma's plan to surprise him and also keep him distracted from the party preparations, since he rarely gets shocked by things. That was her gift for him, giving him a strong new emotion. Ray helped in avoiding Norman finding out, having also Don wearing the dress once.

He is really grateful for it all, saying he really didn't expect it, also because he forgot his birthday, like every year. Ray points out giggling evilly how Norman was so focused only on one person that he couldn't think of anything else, referring to Emma indirectly. Norman tries to explain, but Emma seems to be catching up it's about her, so he pulls Ray away from the arm to a secluded space. He accuses Ray of saying those things to make a fool out of him, to which Ray laughs and says that Emma surely got it and for that he was almost going to explode of laughter. Norman blushes and covers his face, while thinking that if Ray discovered how deep, serious and actually real his feelings for Emma were, he wouldn't get away from it with just some light poking.

With the party reaching its end, Emma approaches Norman again, making sure that she was able to surprise him. He agrees and asks her if she thinks they'll ever wear those same clothes in a nice dinner all together in future and she replies it would be lovely if it happened. He then reflects more about his feelings for her. How he likes her for what she is, her energy, her falws, her tomboy nature... and how he also liked her when so elegant and girly. He bets that she would be still fantastic in any way she would grow up to, in 5 or 10 years. She may would be even more fantastic than she was already for him. With this thoughts, he feels the urge to confess about his love, but eventually backs down, promising to himself that one day he would do it for sure.

Finished the tale, Norman wonders if he should write down his confession in the letter, since he won't get anymore the chance to make those dreams true. He thinks about how it was his turn to surprise Emma with his surprise plan and how their insistence to save him made him happy and grateful, convincing him furthermore to choose this path. He would protect the ones he loved at all costs. Norman finally admits by voice "I always loved you, Emma." but doesn't write it down, settling on not confessing to avoid burdening Emma and breaking her apart more over his death. Feeling content, he walks towards the House, towards his shipment.

The films of memories
During one of the many tales Norman told Emma, it's mentioned how a few days before it was his birthday and that it happened right around the moment they found her. Emma is deeply sorry that she couldn't give him anything for it but he says that finding her again was the best gift he could ever receive.

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.
 * Shirai said that Norman's farewell scene was inspired from U-19's chapter 2. Shirai originally wrapped up his departure in ch. 29 but Sugita's suggestion made him return to the moment and write another chapter for it (ch. 30), taking the mentioned manga as an inspiration. U-19 ch. 2 was a lot romantic and some thematic resemblances are still noticeable. (Check Noremma Gallery for the reference images)

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.
 * One of the workers of the anime drew a noremma fanart.
 * 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 what it seems, one of the reasons NorEmma is so well liked, aside Norman having canon feelings for her and the author pushing it, it's for being heavily implied but never in a way that gets "too much" in the way of the plot. The sub-romantic plot is balanced through the story in its tension and happy moments, making the character seem in love but never getting too much onto the romantic vibes and becoming unnecessary. It's also very appreciated how Norman and Emma went through a moment of separation and found themselves on opposite sides, yet never losing respect and care for each other, even acting for the sake of the other and never giving up on fighting. While many things were at stake and there was tension between them, it was never a risk for them to stop being close and caring. Also their constant being each other's pillar even in distance is a big reason why they appear to have such a strong bond. The angst being well balanced with the fluff and their chemistry are a big element that makes their relationship so appreciated.

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
 * Noremma tag on Wattpad
 * Noremma tag on Wattpad

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