While I was pleasantly surprised that on fanpop there is some tidbits of Nora love it's kinda obvious that in general she isn't the most popular character in the Noragami franchise (up there with Kuguha and Yato's dear old daddy). This is most definitely due to her rather cruel approach to both Hiyori and Yukine. And yet she happens to be one of my favorite characters in the series and I thought I'd clarify what fascinates me about this lovely lady.

{To note} based mostly on the anime, I have read the manga but am not terribly more advanced than the anime progression (like 1 book at most)

What matters more to ME in anime, more than the animation, the originality of the plot, or even pacing if we're being extreme , is actually characters and their relationships with each other. I feel like seeing people interact with each other says a lot more than merely having the character describe themselves which helps make Nora one of the most interesting characters. We never see her by herself, all aspects we know about her is through how she works off of other people.

Nora and Yukine



One of her first clashes is to poetically cut down Yukine. The delivery of her harsh lines are said so matter of factly and wistfully. I don't think that she set out to personally destroy him because there doesn't seem to be a vendetta against Yukine. He hasn't been with Yato long enough to be a problem.There is really nothing more to Yukine (for Nora) but a lost soul, whose own struggle seems like a lost cause. Nora has probably seen the MANY MANY regalia in Yato's history and this recent one seems on the verge of self destruction so she comments with amusement which means that Nora's personality development starts out by introducing her malicious innocence. She finds the struggle of this new regalia vaguely interesting but no real personal investment in what happens after so she bluntly tells him what she thinks. She's straightforward in her thoughts yet also a bit roundabout since it starts off as an offhand comment about the color of his eyes. Turning Nora also into one who has a way with words.

Nora and Hiyori



Nora's confrontation with Hiyori is one of the few times her cool demeanor slips to something a little more traditionally intimidating. The sky darkens, she's not smiling the whole time, and her carefree voice sounds a little harder. She slowly walks to Hiyori and is uncomfortably close. The actual damage done to Hiyori takes a scene to sink in but what makes this scene interesting to me is that Nora's relationship to Hiyori is one of the only openly hostile ones. Even later in the series when it seem that Yukine is there to stay, she continues to treat him with amusement, not really believing that he means much to Yato. But for her one on one with Hiyori she's not in the mood to keep her composure. This makes you wonder...why Hiyori? Both Yukine and Hiyori are close to Yato but Nora seems to take more offense and decisive action towards getting rid of Hiyori. By making you ponder that it makes you understand what type of relationship is more of a threat to Nora and also stresses the importance she lays on it.

Nora and Yato



I think that to call Nora a quiet Yandere is not incorrect since it seems Yato is the only person she cares for besides "father", to the point of not really caring and being hostile to any of the other people who enter his life. Nora has a very personal relationship with Yato, having been with him since he was born and ever since hasn't strayed too far. They are connected by their past and their "Father". Despite this it's interesting how much Yato seems to not know about her. He takes her closeness as something natural and even for granted. They always are within arms length (huggy Nora!!) and a history of working together and working well. Nora has never hurt Yato as a regalia(like stinging him) and seems very confident that she will always be with Yato. She has said that she only needs Yato not caring what being with him pertains. She isn't above hurting Yato though when she feels he's being childish (letting the wolves loose on him, and taking a second to call them off)because she doesn't really believe him when he says he wants to leave.
Yet Yato seems surprised at her lack of empathy for anyone, the fact disturbs him (sacrificing other regalia to keep him safe), and he doesn't seem to know what to make of her kinda confession, which begs the question about what he thought about her without all his new morals in the way. He seems to only be seeing her now but still doesn't care for her more than the connection they've had (impromptu siblings/co workers) since he gives a "thanks for being there, goodbye" without a second thought. This is another time where Nora can't keep calm, her eyes widening with horror, and backflashes of all their memories together building up to this moment when Yato, the one person who means something to her, has cut himself from her. The one thing she never took seriously became a reality.

Nora and Fujisaki



This scene is only a few seconds but I feel it captures how childlike Nora seems. Her eyes look at him for guidance and she seems so small in his shadow but at the same time not really scared or against him. During the scene also she is wondering why Yato is rejecting what she's accepted for so long.

Nora

It might seem like I just wrote a scene breakdown but the point is that Nora made me think about her. Every scene had something new to understand about her and I love that.



Whenever Nora appears it seems like an event. The anime has it's own entry clip for her, the silence and a drop of water hitting a calm pool. Nora has a presence to her, with the way she always carries herself with dignity and her overall cool demeanor. The whole world seems to stop to see her approach and hear her judgment. She has a malicious innocence about her, with a quiet intense affection for Yato. She's cruel to everyone but doesn't really see why it's wrong. I can't help but love characters who are a true to themselves and Nora takes that to a level where it doesn't really bother her that there isn't anyone who likes her. She's so quietly intense it's just so great.

There's still so much more to the character but she captures my attention whenever she's onscreen and I hope you understand a little bit more of why.

How do you feel about Nora?