I thought the painter guy would be a giant scumbag, but he's turned out to be pretty okay. When it first introduced him, it seemed like he would be a problem. I know he's obsessed with her look, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy overall.
I feel like Ebihara is pulling some Big IQ plays here by forcing Sumi to finally tell the truth to Sakuraba. Ebihara's proposal is half serious it seems and what his goal really is, is Sumi's happiness or something. He wants to see a new side of her that he wants to paint. THATS his objective in the next painting he's doing.