I was answering about THIS game (not different definitions for the various forbidden three letter words). In a different game (Remake Story) the focus is different and so your idea would work. In THIS game the Dev has SAID that (EVIL Scum) Eric IS an enemy and WILL be gone in ALL paths. The EASIEST explanation for this would be 'It's in the Script'. The longer explanation which I tried to write is VERY long but boils down to MAX is the MC and Eric is just a side character that provides an option to see different scenes but must leave at some point so we can do OTHER things.
Hmm, let's try a different way to explain for THIS game. You are travelling from one place to another. Shortly after you start you come to a crossroads with 3 choices. Eventually they WILL come together again (With new choices appearing later), but until then you see and experience different things. In the end THIS game is about MAX going to a destination, and the paths are different options that will change what he sees and does along the way. Max will STILL get to the planned destination. There may be a few differences based on the choices we make but it's still the destination.
I hope this ends the discussion about keeping the EVIL one in the game beyond a certain point but know that it will continue. Of course, when it shows up again and the answer WILL be the same, Eric must go because 'It's in the Script'.