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Otaku x Gal #1
Otaku x Gal 01
What do a geeky boy and a trendy girl have in common? More than they think!
Teased for his nerdy hobbies in middle school, Koichi Otakura has entered high school with every intention of blending into the background. But when Yua Narumi, the popular girl who sits behind him in class, discovers his hidden talents, she begs him to help her keep up with the latest fashion trends! After all, aren’t the skills required to draw fan art and paint plastic models totally applicable to designing nails and styling hair? Who says otakus and gals can’t get along?!
Teased for his nerdy hobbies in middle school, Koichi Otakura has entered high school with every intention of blending into the background. But when Yua Narumi, the popular girl who sits behind him in class, discovers his hidden talents, she begs him to help her keep up with the latest fashion trends! After all, aren’t the skills required to draw fan art and paint plastic models totally applicable to designing nails and styling hair? Who says otakus and gals can’t get along?!
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 21, 2026
Deja vu!
I read a more perverse version of this exact same plot last week as My Dress-Up Darling, Vol. 1: the outgoing and attractive girl in class who is slightly clumsy approaches her introverted and nerdy classmate to use his dollmaking skills to up her personal style game. Soon, this magical pixie dream girl is helping to pull the geek out of his shell, getting him to talk to other people and walk a little taller, and seeing him as a romantic possibility.
The level of fan service in My Dress-Up Darling is icky, so I appreciate the more subdued approach here, but unfortunately, everything else is also more subdued. Reading this, I can only think about all the energy and humor the other book has and how I wish I were reading it instead.
Saccharine vs. sugar.
I'm going to let this series go.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapters 1-5 -- Approach to Nicknames -- This Earned Her a Trip to the Principal's Office -- Special Thanks -- Sneak Peek at Volume 2
I read a more perverse version of this exact same plot last week as My Dress-Up Darling, Vol. 1: the outgoing and attractive girl in class who is slightly clumsy approaches her introverted and nerdy classmate to use his dollmaking skills to up her personal style game. Soon, this magical pixie dream girl is helping to pull the geek out of his shell, getting him to talk to other people and walk a little taller, and seeing him as a romantic possibility.
The level of fan service in My Dress-Up Darling is icky, so I appreciate the more subdued approach here, but unfortunately, everything else is also more subdued. Reading this, I can only think about all the energy and humor the other book has and how I wish I were reading it instead.
Saccharine vs. sugar.
I'm going to let this series go.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapters 1-5 -- Approach to Nicknames -- This Earned Her a Trip to the Principal's Office -- Special Thanks -- Sneak Peek at Volume 2
February 11, 2026
Now that My Dress-Up Darling has concluded, I was wondering where I might possibly find something to fill that void. And, swooping in like a bleach blonde anime figurine with a frappucino, this comes to my rescue.
I am a sucker, a noted sucker, for gyaru (or “gal” in the alternative parlance) characters and I love pretty much everything about this. I often grouse about these wish fulfillment stories, but this one does a lot of things differently.
For one, Koichi is a definite otaku and way into his nerdy hobbies, but he isn’t a complete stranger to the concept of being a decent human being. He’s got his figurines and his anime, but that’s not short code for him being rude, standoffish, or a jerk to Yua. They don’t have common ground, yet, but he doesn’t outright dismiss her.
Sure, it’s a little crazy that his skills translate to expertly doing Yua’s nails when she wants his opinion on how they look, but that’s the sort of thing I’m happier to allow for. This treats its characters like people and is better for it.
And Yua’s not the type to hold her nose up at anybody for just being themselves. In fact, she quickly comes to Koichi’s defence when her best friend Riko tries to call him cringe and really sticks up for him.
Even better, this argument doesn’t even make Yua blink when Riko ends up as the target of bullies later on. With Koichi’s help, the two of them launch a solid plan to get Riko out of a jam. It’s terribly enjoyable stuff.
I love seeing the two of them interact in general. Yua’s free spirit really has an effect on Koichi from the very start and it was cute that she notices him standing up a bit more later on (before he resumes wrecking his posture, of course).
Okay, yes, I genuinely just described My Dress-Up Darling, but it’s not like there can’t be two good versions of one of the most repeated genres going. I actually appreciated the modest immodesty in this after how racy My Dress-Up Darling was. Which worked well for that series, but this is a bit more restrained (and reasonable, which is hard for explain, but trust me).
Not that it’s prudish, by any stretch. It also goes dipping a toe into harem territory, at least for a brief head pat, but the core relationship is really what I’m after. Yua’s strength of character and Koichi’s skill set really compliment each other and make a case for why they’re such a good pairing, beyond ‘because it was written that way’.
The last gal book I picked up was, I think, Gals Can’t Be Kind to Otaku!?, and that was a funny and fun first volume that I certainly had a good time with, but didn’t really make a case for why its two gals would really be into the main character.
This? It’s obvious why the two of them are and I prefer that. Koichi can absolutely talk to people and just doesn’t want to so he isn’t picked on for his hobbies. It just works better, even if his transformation from middle to high school looks like nothing has actually changed.
Yeah, if you are done with these stories, I am not sure this will bring you back into the fold. Personally, I was hoping for decent and found myself happily blown away by what I got. Objectively, it’s probably around four stars, but I had one of the best times of recent memory reading this.
4.5 stars - fine, I will ding it a bit for originality, but that’s it. I have no complaints about this one and it made me smile from start to finish with how well realized it made some stock characters. Just knock off a star if you don’t need another of these in your life.
I am a sucker, a noted sucker, for gyaru (or “gal” in the alternative parlance) characters and I love pretty much everything about this. I often grouse about these wish fulfillment stories, but this one does a lot of things differently.
For one, Koichi is a definite otaku and way into his nerdy hobbies, but he isn’t a complete stranger to the concept of being a decent human being. He’s got his figurines and his anime, but that’s not short code for him being rude, standoffish, or a jerk to Yua. They don’t have common ground, yet, but he doesn’t outright dismiss her.
Sure, it’s a little crazy that his skills translate to expertly doing Yua’s nails when she wants his opinion on how they look, but that’s the sort of thing I’m happier to allow for. This treats its characters like people and is better for it.
And Yua’s not the type to hold her nose up at anybody for just being themselves. In fact, she quickly comes to Koichi’s defence when her best friend Riko tries to call him cringe and really sticks up for him.
Even better, this argument doesn’t even make Yua blink when Riko ends up as the target of bullies later on. With Koichi’s help, the two of them launch a solid plan to get Riko out of a jam. It’s terribly enjoyable stuff.
I love seeing the two of them interact in general. Yua’s free spirit really has an effect on Koichi from the very start and it was cute that she notices him standing up a bit more later on (before he resumes wrecking his posture, of course).
Okay, yes, I genuinely just described My Dress-Up Darling, but it’s not like there can’t be two good versions of one of the most repeated genres going. I actually appreciated the modest immodesty in this after how racy My Dress-Up Darling was. Which worked well for that series, but this is a bit more restrained (and reasonable, which is hard for explain, but trust me).
Not that it’s prudish, by any stretch. It also goes dipping a toe into harem territory, at least for a brief head pat, but the core relationship is really what I’m after. Yua’s strength of character and Koichi’s skill set really compliment each other and make a case for why they’re such a good pairing, beyond ‘because it was written that way’.
The last gal book I picked up was, I think, Gals Can’t Be Kind to Otaku!?, and that was a funny and fun first volume that I certainly had a good time with, but didn’t really make a case for why its two gals would really be into the main character.
This? It’s obvious why the two of them are and I prefer that. Koichi can absolutely talk to people and just doesn’t want to so he isn’t picked on for his hobbies. It just works better, even if his transformation from middle to high school looks like nothing has actually changed.
Yeah, if you are done with these stories, I am not sure this will bring you back into the fold. Personally, I was hoping for decent and found myself happily blown away by what I got. Objectively, it’s probably around four stars, but I had one of the best times of recent memory reading this.
4.5 stars - fine, I will ding it a bit for originality, but that’s it. I have no complaints about this one and it made me smile from start to finish with how well realized it made some stock characters. Just knock off a star if you don’t need another of these in your life.
March 15, 2026
cute and sweet, reminds me of dress up darling
May 2, 2026
My Dress Up Darling rip off is obvious My Darling Dress Up rip off. Cute, not sorry I picked it up, but probably won't be getting volume 2.
May 17, 2026
It’s basically My Dress Up Darling, light edition. It’s fine as a standard shoujo, but the comparison is brutal since I just finished the last volume of MDUD. The start of their friendship is really abrupt, with only a token attempt to show Otaku’s bewilderment at being pulled along with her antics. Riko was added as a sharp tongued friend that reminds me of Juju…
Marin and Gojo were really charming, and unfortunately so far this pair isn’t quite up to the comparison. I also don’t love the localization - seeing “no cap?” In a manga makes me cringe.
Marin and Gojo were really charming, and unfortunately so far this pair isn’t quite up to the comparison. I also don’t love the localization - seeing “no cap?” In a manga makes me cringe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2026
Otakura is a bit of a nerd, but in high school he is keeping it hidden until Narumi who sits behind him glimpses some of his drawings. She has a problem she thinks he can solve and so barges up and asks. But it does not stop with one ask, instead she regularly gets him involved whether it is nails, or hairdo, or friends make-over. Does Otakura know what he has gotten himself into? Not really, but he is sort-of, kind-of enjoying the ride!
Thanks Square Enix for a copy of this manga!
Thanks Square Enix for a copy of this manga!
May 21, 2026
CW: bullying
While I didn't know if I was going to enjoy Otaku x Gal when I first started reading the book, it ultimately came together in the end and I'm interested in checking out the rest of this series. Otaku x Gal is more so slice-of-life than romance (at least in this book), but there is a hint of romance added in at certain scenes.
While I didn't know if I was going to enjoy Otaku x Gal when I first started reading the book, it ultimately came together in the end and I'm interested in checking out the rest of this series. Otaku x Gal is more so slice-of-life than romance (at least in this book), but there is a hint of romance added in at certain scenes.
July 10, 2026
lwk kind of bored of the insecure introvert otaku meeting extrovert girl; the start is basic but what I like about it is they don't keep their friendship that secretive. so it makes it more interesting to read.
September 26, 2025
This is 100% we have Dress-Up Darling at home.
April 4, 2026
This really is a copy and paste of my dress up darling but a PG version.
April 9, 2026
めちゃくちゃ可愛かった!
July 6, 2026
fun but kinda rip off of my dressed up darling idk if would read more.
July 27, 2026
7/26 Library find. This was fun! I like the characters and the premise. Will give it another volume.
February 27, 2026
2.5/5
Title pretty much says it all. Has obvious Dress Up My Darling vibes, but less skimpy fanservice. Unfortunately, the plot itself feels less developed as it's just Otaku using being an otaku to be skilled doing nails, hair, and makeup while Gal gushes about it. It feels more romcom than hobbyist manga. First volume doesn't have much in the way of romance, but it seems probable to lean that way.
Title pretty much says it all. Has obvious Dress Up My Darling vibes, but less skimpy fanservice. Unfortunately, the plot itself feels less developed as it's just Otaku using being an otaku to be skilled doing nails, hair, and makeup while Gal gushes about it. It feels more romcom than hobbyist manga. First volume doesn't have much in the way of romance, but it seems probable to lean that way.
July 26, 2026
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
The energy and illustrations in this volume are of high quality, but this manga might feel dated very quickly because of the need to keep Yua “trendy.” She uses phrases like “lit” and “no cap" which are already going out of style as soon as this reaches our libraries. Yua is a “gyaru”, and the choice to translate this to “gal” is an interesting one because it just sounds like they’re calling her a girl rather than a specific type of subculture that makes more sense in Japan. There is some sweetness to the friendship between Yua and Otakura, and this is the part that will have appeal to some teen readers.
There are some moments of fan service where parts of underwear is shown, and female characters' cleavage is accentuated.
This review was made possible with a digital reader copy from the publisher.
Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
The energy and illustrations in this volume are of high quality, but this manga might feel dated very quickly because of the need to keep Yua “trendy.” She uses phrases like “lit” and “no cap" which are already going out of style as soon as this reaches our libraries. Yua is a “gyaru”, and the choice to translate this to “gal” is an interesting one because it just sounds like they’re calling her a girl rather than a specific type of subculture that makes more sense in Japan. There is some sweetness to the friendship between Yua and Otakura, and this is the part that will have appeal to some teen readers.
There are some moments of fan service where parts of underwear is shown, and female characters' cleavage is accentuated.
This review was made possible with a digital reader copy from the publisher.
Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews