"Match starts in five, Leo," a voice boomed. He turned to see a rendered version of his favorite striker, looking terrifyingly human but for the slight shimmer of pixels around his eyes. "The 2023 season isn't over until we say it is."

He looked down. He wasn't wearing his oversized hoodie. He was in full kit, cleats clicking against the cold floor. A heavy, leather ball sat at his feet.

In the underground forums, this file was a legend—the "Ghost Patch." It promised the 2023 season with physics so real you could almost smell the fresh-cut grass of Wembley through the screen. Official servers had moved on to the next year, but Leo wasn't ready to let go of his championship-winning roster. "Almost there," Leo whispered, his eyes bloodshot.