https://drafts.csswg.org/css-align/#justify-abspos

For replaced absolutely-positioned boxes, the normal keyword behaves as start.

For all other absolutely-positioned boxes, normal behaves as stretch.

https://drafts.csswg.org/css-align/#align-abspos

For replaced absolutely-positioned boxes, the normal keyword behaves as start.

For all other absolutely-positioned boxes, normal behaves as stretch.

However: https://drafts.csswg.org/css-position-3/#abspos-auto-size

• If its self-alignment property in the relevant axis is stretch

• Or if it is normal and the box is non-replaced, not a table wrapper box, and has no auto inset in the relevant axis

  Its automatic size is its stretch-fit size.

• Otherwise

  Its automatic size is its fit-content size.

So normal can't be behaving as stretch if they affect sizing in different ways.