On a quiet Friday night in Tokyo, one chance encounter changes everything.

Koizumi thought he was just leaving a baseball game early. But on the commute home, a fleeting moment with a mysterious woman derails his ordinary life.

What readers say about Swallows vs Ravens

“Interesting story, and perfect length for my bus ride home from work. As a guy, I feel like I've been in that situation lots of times, so I can relate to Koizumi's predicament of thinking a woman is stunning but not wanting to take it any further, thanks to…”

Love a good book.Royal Road5.0 / 5

“This is a good short story though it doesn't have any strong emotional attachment and has something that feels like a politeness out of social obligation. The subtext here is very culture-specific in a way and that may make it difficult for some readers to…”

RznRoyal Road4.5 / 5

Community Reviews(2)

Love a good book.Royal Road

★★★★★ 5.0

Interesting story, and perfect length for my bus ride home from work. As a guy, I feel like I've been in that situation lots of times, so I can relate to Koizumi's predicament of thinking a woman is stunning but not wanting to take it any further, thanks to his better judgement.

RznRoyal Road

★★★★★ 4.5

This is a good short story though it doesn't have any strong emotional attachment and has something that feels like a politeness out of social obligation. The subtext here is very culture-specific in a way and that may make it difficult for some readers to connect to it. Then again, it is emotionally muted by intention. It works, but at the same time the ending leaves it feeling unresolved.