No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!

Tomoko Kuroki is not popular. The fifteen-year-old high school freshman has spent her entire life as a shut-in, gaming and reading otome games, convinced that her social awkwardness is everyone else's fault. But when she finally decides to change her ways and become the cool, admired girl she imagines herself to be, reality hits hard. Every attempt at social interaction backfires spectacularly, from awkward silences to cringe-worthy misunderstandings. This is the premise of No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!, a Japanese manga series that has become a cult favorite for its brutally honest and painfully funny portrayal of social anxiety and teenage awkwardness.

The manga, written and illustrated by the duo under the pseudonym Nico Tanigawa, began its serialization on Square Enix's Gangan Online service in August 2011. The North American release is handled by Yen Press, and the series has grown to over 20 volumes. Its popularity spawned a 4-panel spin-off manga that ran in Gangan Joker from January 2013 to July 2015, as well as a 12-episode anime adaptation by Silver Link that aired in Japan from July to September 2013. The story follows Tomoko's daily struggles, mixing dark humor with moments of genuine pathos, making her both a figure of ridicule and sympathy. It's a sharp, unflinching look at the awkwardness of adolescence, wrapped in the trappings of a slice-of-life comedy. [edit]