Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun #5

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, a four-panel gag manga created by Izumi Tsubaki, first began serialization in 2011 on the Gangan Online website. The series centers on high school student Chiyo Sakura and her secret crush, Umetaro Nozaki, who unknowingly leads a double life as a prominent shojo manga artist. The fifth volume, released as part of the series' ongoing tankobon collection, continues to explore the meta-humorous intersections between the characters' daily lives and the tropes of the romance manga Nozaki writes.

Izumi Tsubaki’s character-driven approach relies on subverting expectations of the shojo genre, positioning the traditionally idealized 'manga hero' as a pragmatic, often oblivious creator. The design and layout of the volume follow the standard aesthetic of the Gangan Comics imprint, prioritizing clear, expressive panels that emphasize comedic timing over complex background art. Upon its release, the volume was well-received by fans of the series for its consistent balance of slapstick comedy and subtle character development.