Due to sheer stupidity, I missed the fact that the author is male.

I didn't even notice. And I've read nearly all his works on this sites. Lol (=・ω・=)
I do love his artwork.

I don't know where you heard the author is male but on Baka-Updates they say the author is female. And I tend to think that this site has good and accurate information.

Then I am a very confused person.

I thought the name Akira was a male gender name. But you're right kleineputchen, Norikazu Akira is a woman.

Maybe it’s a pen name. Or her parents just really wanted a boy. Lol

Baka-updates.mentioned a mangak brother. Ken something. But it was norikazu... so a pen name is quite possible.

*Mangaka